Inbred corn line PH7GD

ABSTRACT

A novel inbred maize line designated PH7GD and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PH7GD with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH7GD through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PH7GD or an introgressed trait conversion of PH7GD with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH7GD, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PH7GD and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of maize breeding,specifically relating to an inbred maize line designated PH7GD.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of plant breeding is to combine, in a single variety or hybrid,various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may includeresistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought,reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomicquality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plantcharacteristics such as germination, stand establishment, growth rate,maturity, plant height and ear height, is important. Traditional plantbreeding is an important tool in developing new and improved commercialcrops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred maize line,designated PH7GD and processes for making PH7GD. This invention relatesto seed of inbred maize line PH7GD, to the plants of inbred maize linePH7GD, to plant parts of inbred maize line PH7GD, and to processes formaking a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PH7GD withanother maize plant. This invention also relates to processes for makinga maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traitsintrogressed into PH7GD through backcross conversion and/ortransformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced bysuch introgression. This invention further relates to a hybrid maizeseed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PH7GD oran introgressed trait conversion of PH7GD with another maize line. Thisinvention also relates to inbred maize lines derived from inbred maizeline PH7GD, to processes for making other inbred maize lines derivedfrom inbred maize line PH7GD and to the inbred maize lines and theirparts derived by the use of those processes.

Definitions

Certain definitions used in the specification are provided below. Alsoin the examples that follow, a number of terms are used herein. In orderto provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification andclaims, including the scope to be given such terms, the followingdefinitions are provided. NOTE: ABS is in absolute terms and % MN ispercent of the mean for the experiments in which the inbred or hybridwas grown. PCT designates that the trait is calculated as a percentage.% NOT designates the percentage of plants that did not exhibit a trait.For example, STKLDG % NOT is the percentage of plants in a plot thatwere not stalk lodged. These designators will follow the descriptors todenote how the values are to be interpreted.

ABTSTK=ARTIFICIAL BRITTLE STALK. A count of the number of “snapped”plants per plot following machine snapping. A snapped plant has itsstalk completely snapped at a node between the base of the plant and thenode above the ear. Expressed as percent of plants that did not snap.

ALLELE. Any of one or more alternative forms of a genetic sequence.Typically, in a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a givensequence typically occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologouschromosomes.

ANT ROT=ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT (Colletotrichum graminicola). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

BACKCROSSING. Process in which a breeder crosses a hybrid progeny lineback to one of the parental genotypes one or more times.

BARPLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that were notbarren (lack ears).

BREEDING. The genetic manipulation of living organisms.

BREEDING CROSS. A cross to introduce new genetic material into a plantfor the development of a new variety. For example, one could cross plantA with plant B, wherein plant B would be genetically different fromplant A. After the breeding cross, the resulting F1 plants could then beselfed or sibbed for one, two, three or more times (F1, F2, F3, etc.)until a new inbred variety is developed. For clarification, such newinbred varieties would be within a pedigree distance of one breedingcross of plants A and B. The process described above would be referredto as one breeding cycle.

BRTSTK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near thetime of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid or inbredwould snap or break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Dataare presented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

CELL. Cell as used herein includes a plant cell, whether isolated, intissue culture or incorporated in a plant or plant part.

CLDTST=COLD TEST. The percent of plants that germinate under cold testconditions.

CLN=CORN LETHAL NECROSIS. Synergistic interaction of maize chloroticmottle virus (MCMV) in combination with either maize dwarf mosaic virus(MDMV-A or MDMV-B) or wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Corn Lethal Necrosis. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

COMRST=COMMON RUST (Puccinia sorghi). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicatingthe resistance to Common Rust. A higher score indicates a higherresistance.

CROSS POLLINATION. A plant is cross pollinated if the pollen comes froma flower on a different plant from a different family or line. Crosspollination excludes sib and self pollination.

CROSS. As used herein, the term “cross” or “crossing” can refer to asimple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on thecontext.

D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybrid willreach acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a 1 to 9rating scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relatively fastwhile a low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly.

DIPERS=DIPLODIA EAR MOLD SCORES (Diplodia maydis and Diplodiamacrospora). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toDiplodia Ear Mold. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

DIPLOID PLANT PART. Refers to a plant part or cell that has the samediploid genotype as PH7GD.

DIPROT=DIPLODIA STALK ROT SCORE. Score of stalk rot severity due toDiplodia (Diplodia maydis). Expressed as a 1 to 9 score with 9 beinghighly resistant.

DRPEAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of dropped ears per plotand represents the percentage of plants that did not drop ears prior toharvest.

D/T=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1 to 9 rating for droughttolerance, and is based on data obtained under stress conditions. A highscore indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poordrought tolerance.

EARHT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to thehighest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured incentimeters.

EARMLD=GENERAL EAR MOLD. Visual rating (1 to 9 score) where a “1” isvery susceptible and a “9” is very resistant. This is based on overallrating for ear mold of mature ears without determining the specific moldorganism, and may not be predictive for a specific ear mold.

EARSZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higher therating the larger the ear size.

EBTSTK=EARLY BRITTLE STALK. A count of the number of “snapped” plantsper plot following severe winds when the corn plant is experiencing veryrapid vegetative growth in the V5–V8 stage. Expressed as percent ofplants that did not snap.

ECB1LF=EUROPEAN CORN BORER FIRST GENERATION LEAF FEEDING (Ostrinianubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance topreflowering leaf feeding by first generation European Corn Borer. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB21T=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION INCHES OF TUNNELING(Ostrinia nubilalis). Average inches of tunneling per plant in thestalk.

ECB2SC=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION (Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1to 9 visual rating indicating post flowering degree of stalk breakageand other evidence of feeding by European Corn Borer, Second Generation.A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECBDPE=EUROPEAN CORN BORER DROPPED EARS (Ostrinia nubilalis). Droppedears due to European Corn Borer. Percentage of plants that did not dropears under second generation corn borer infestation.

EGRWTH=EARLY GROWTH. This is a measure of the relative height and sizeof a corn seedling at the 2–4 leaf stage of growth. This is a visualrating (1 to 9), with 1 being weak or slow growth, 5 being averagegrowth and 9 being strong growth. Taller plants, wider leaves, moregreen mass and darker color constitute higher score.

ELITE INBRED. An inbred that contributed desirable qualities when usedto produce commercial hybrids. An elite inbred may also be used infurther breeding for the purpose of developing further improvedvarieties.

ERTLDG=EARLY ROOT LODGING. Early root lodging is the percentage ofplants that do not root lodge prior to or around anthesis; plants thatlean from the vertical axis at an approximately 30 degree angle orgreater would be counted as root lodged.

ERTLPN=EARLY ROOT LODGING. An estimate of the percentage of plants thatdo not root lodge prior to or around anthesis; plants that lean from thevertical axis at an approximately 30 degree angle or greater would beconsidered as root lodged.

ERTLSC=EARLY ROOT LODGING SCORE. Score for severity of plants that leanfrom a vertical axis at an approximate 30 degree angle or greater whichtypically results from strong winds prior to or around floweringrecorded within 2 weeks of a wind event. Expressed as a 1 to 9 scorewith 9 being no lodging.

ESTCNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishmentin the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on perplot basis for the inbred or hybrid.

EYESPT=EYE SPOT (Kabatiella zeae or Aureobasidium zeae). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Eye Spot. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

FUSERS=FUSARIUM EAR ROT SCORE (Fusarium moniliforme or Fusariumsubglutinans). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toFusarium ear rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

GDU=GROWING DEGREE UNITS. Using the Barger Heat Unit Theory, whichassumes that maize growth occurs in the temperature range 50 degreesF.–86 degrees F. and that temperatures outside this range slow downgrowth; the maximum daily heat unit accumulation is 36 and the minimumdaily heat unit accumulation is 0. The seasonal accumulation of GDU is amajor factor in determining maturity zones.

GDUSHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heatunits required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the time ofplanting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method,where the heat units for a 24-hour period are:

${GDU} = {\frac{\left( {{Max}.\mspace{14mu}{temp}.\mspace{14mu}{+ \mspace{14mu}{{Min}.\mspace{14mu}{temp}.}}} \right)}{2} - 50}$

The highest maximum temperature used is 86 degrees F. and the lowestminimum temperature used is 50 degrees F. For each inbred or hybrid ittakes a certain number of GDUs to reach various stages of plantdevelopment.

GDUSLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for aninbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plantswith silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree units arecalculated by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition.

GENOTYPE. Refers to the genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

GIBERS=GIBBERELLA EAR ROT (PINK MOLD) (Gibberella zeae). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Gibberella Ear Rot. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

GIBROT=GIBBERELLA STALK ROT SCORE. Score of stalk rot severity due toGibberella (Gibberella zeae). Expressed as a 1 to 9 score with 9 beinghighly resistant.

GLFSPT=GRAY LEAF SPOT (Cercospora zeae-maydis). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Gray Leaf Spot. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

GOSWLT=GOSS' WILT (Corynebacterium nebraskense). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Goss' Wilt. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

GRNAPP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the generalappearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factorsas the color of harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any crackedgrain. High scores indicate good grain visual quality.

HAPLOID PLANT PART. Refers to a plant part or cell that has the samehaploid genotype as PH7GD.

HCBLT=HELMINTHOSPORIUM CARBONUM LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium carbonum).A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Helminthosporiuminfection. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

HD SMT=HEAD SMUT (Sphacelotheca reiliana). This score indicates thepercentage of plants not infected.

HSKCVR=HUSK COVER. A 1 to 9 score based on performance relative to keychecks, with a score of 1 indicating very short husks, tip of ear andkernels showing; 5 is intermediate coverage of the ear under mostconditions, sometimes with thin husk; and a 9 has husks extending andclosed beyond the tip of the ear. Scoring can best be done nearphysiological maturity stage or any time during dry down untilharvested.

INC D/A=GROSS INCOME (DOLLARS PER ACRE). Relative income per acreassuming drying costs of two cents per point above 15.5 percent harvestmoisture and current market price per bushel.

INCOME/ACRE. Income advantage of hybrid to be patented over other hybridon per acre basis.

INC ADV=GROSS INCOME ADVANTAGE. GROSS INCOME advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

KSZDCD=KERNEL SIZE DISCARD. The percent of discard seed; calculated asthe sum of discarded tip kernels and extra large kernels.

LINKAGE. Refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosometend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM. Refers to a phenomenon wherein alleles tend toremain together in linkage groups when segregating from parents tooffspring, with a greater frequency than expected from their individualfrequencies.

L/POP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plantdensities on a 1 to 9 relative system with a higher number indicatingthe hybrid responds well to low plant densities for yield relative toother hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, andvery good yield response, respectively, to low plant density.

LRTLDG=LATE ROOT LODGING. Late root lodging is the percentage of plantsthat do not root lodge after anthesis through harvest; plants that leanfrom the vertical axis at an approximately 30 degree angle or greaterwould be counted as root lodged.

LRTLPN=LATE ROOT LODGING. Late root lodging is an estimate of thepercentage of plants that do not root lodge after anthesis throughharvest; plants that lean from the vertical axis at an approximately 30degree angle or greater would be considered as root lodged.

LRTLSC=LATE ROOT LODGING SCORE. Score for severity of plants that leanfrom a vertical axis at an approximate 30 degree angle or greater whichtypically results from strong winds after flowering. Recorded prior toharvest when a root-lodging event has occurred. This lodging results inplants that are leaned or “lodged” over at the base of the plant and donot straighten or “goose-neck” back to a vertical position. Expressed asa 1 to 9 score with 9 being no lodging.

MDMCPX=MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC COMPLEX (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus andMCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating theresistance to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture ofthe grain at harvest.

MSTADV=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE. The moisture advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 as calculated by: MOISTURE of variety #2−MOISTURE of variety#1=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

NLFBLT=NORTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium turcicum or Exserohilumturcicum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to NorthernLeaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

OILT=GRAIN OIL. Absolute value of oil content of the kernel as predictedby Near-Infrared Transmittance and expressed as a percent of dry matter.

PEDIGREE DISTANCE. Relationship among generations based on theirancestral links as evidenced in pedigrees. May be measured by thedistance of the pedigree from a given starting point in the ancestry.

PERCENT IDENTITY. Percent identity as used herein refers to thecomparison of the homozygous alleles of two inbred lines. Each inbredplant will have the same allele (and therefore be homozygous) at almostall of their loci. Percent identity is determined by comparing astatistically significant number of the homozygous alleles of two inbredlines. For example, a percent identity of 90% between inbred PH7GD andother inbred line means that the two inbred lines have the same alleleat 90% of their loci.

PERCENT SIMILARITY. Percent similarity as used herein refers to thecomparison of the homozygous alleles of an inbred line with anotherplant. The homozygous alleles of PH7GD are compared with the alleles ofa non-inbred plant, such as a hybrid, and if the allele of the inbredmatches at least one of the alleles from the hybrid then they are scoredas similar. Percent similarity is determined by comparing astatistically significant number of loci and recording the number ofloci with similar alleles as a percentage. For example, a percentsimilarity of 90% between inbred PH7GD and a hybrid maize plant meansthat the inbred line matches at least one of the hybrid alleles at 90%of the loci. In the case of a hybrid produced from PH7GD as the male orfemale parent, such hybrid will comprise two sets of alleles, one set ofwhich will comprise the same alleles as the homozygous alleles of inbredline PH7GD.

PLANT. As used herein, the term “plant” includes reference to animmature or mature whole plant, including a plant that has beendetasseled or from which seed or grain has been removed. Seed or embryothat will produce the plant is also considered to be the plant.

PLANT PARTS. As used herein, the term “plant parts” includes leaves,stems, roots, seed, grain, embryo, pollen, ovules, flowers, ears, cobs,husks, stalks, root tips, anthers, pericarp, silk, tissue, cells and thelike.

PLTHT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant fromthe ground to the tip of the tassel in centimeters.

POLSC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount ofpollen shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed.

POLWT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tasselscollected as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tasselsharvested after shedding is complete.

POP K/A=PLANT POPULATIONS. Measured as 1000s per acre.

POP ADV=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE. The plant population advantage ofvariety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by PLANT POPULATION of variety#2−PLANT POPULATION of variety #1=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE of variety#1.

PRM=PREDICTED RELATIVE MATURITY. This trait, predicted relativematurity, is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relativematurity rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standardlinear regression analyses and is also referred to as the ComparativeRelative Maturity Rating System that is similar to the MinnesotaRelative Maturity Rating System.

PRMSHD=A relative measure of the growing degree units (GDU) required toreach 50% pollen shed. Relative values are predicted values from thelinear regression of observed GDU's on relative maturity of commercialchecks.

PROT=GRAIN PROTEIN. Absolute value of protein content of the kernel aspredicted by Near-infrared Transmittance and expressed as a percent ofdry matter.

RTLDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that do notroot lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at an approximately30 degree angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

RTLADV=ROOT LODGING ADVANTAGE. The root lodging advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

SCTGRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount ofscatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on the ear. Thehigher the score the less scatter grain.

SDGVGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of the amountof vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage(approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor.

SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a single measure ofthe hybrid's worth based on information for up to five traits. A maizebreeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selectionindex. One of the traits that is almost always included is yield. Theselection index data presented in the tables represent the mean valueaveraged across testing stations.

SELF POLLINATION. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen from one floweris transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant.

SIB POLLINATION. A plant is sib-pollinated when individuals within thesame family or line are used for pollination.

SLFBLT=SOUTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium maydis or Bipolarismaydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to SouthernLeaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

SOURST=SOUTHERN RUST (Puccinia polysora). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Southern Rust. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

STAGRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health near thetime of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high scoreindicates better late-season plant health.

STDADV=STALK STANDING ADVANTAGE. The advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 for the trait STK CNT.

STKCNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number of plants perplot.

STKLDG=STALK LODGING REGULAR. This is the percentage of plants that didnot stalk lodge (stalk breakage) at regular harvest (when grain moistureis between about 20 and 30%) as measured by either natural lodging orpushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that breakbelow the ear.

STKLDL=LATE STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did notstalk lodge (stalk breakage) at or around late season harvest (whengrain moisture is between about 15 and 18%) as measured by eithernatural lodging or pushing the stalks and determining the percentage ofplants that break below the ear.

STKLDS=STALK LODGING SCORE. A plant is considered as stalk lodged if thestalk is broken or crimped between the ear and the ground. This can becaused by any or a combination of the following: strong winds late inthe season, disease pressure within the stalks, ECB damage orgenetically weak stalks. This trait should be taken just prior to or atharvest. Expressed on a 1 to 9 scale with 9 being no lodging.

STLLPN=LATE STALK LODGING. This is the percent of plants that did notstalk lodge (stalk breakage or crimping) at or around late seasonharvest (when grain moisture is below 20%) as measured by either naturallodging or pushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plantsthat break or crimp below the ear.

STLPCN=STALK LODGING REGULAR. This is an estimate of the percentage ofplants that did not stalk lodge (stalk breakage) at regular harvest(when grain moisture is between about 20 and 30%) as measured by eithernatural lodging or pushing the stalks and determining the percentage ofplants that break below the ear.

STRT=GRAIN STARCH. Absolute value of starch content of the kernel aspredicted by Near-Infrared Transmittance and expressed as a percent ofdry matter.

STWWLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Stewart's Wilt. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

TASBLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measure thedegree of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel at thetime of flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blasting attime of flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting.

TASSZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate therelative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger thetassel.

TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel (grams)just prior to pollen shed.

TEXEAR=EAR TEXTURE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate therelative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 would bevery soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or verysmooth crown).

TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot that couldpossibly shed pollen was taken. Data are given as a percentage oftillers: number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants perplot.

TSTWT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of the grainin pounds for a given volume (bushel).

TSWADV=TEST WEIGHT ADVANTAGE. The test weight advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

WIN M %=PERCENT MOISTURE WINS.

WIN Y %=PERCENT YIELD WINS.

YIELD BU/A=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Yield of the grain at harvest inbushels per acre adjusted to 15% moisture.

YLDADV=YIELD ADVANTAGE. The yield advantage of variety #1 over variety#2 as calculated by: YIELD of variety #1−YIELD variety #2=yieldadvantage of variety #1.

YLDSC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give a relativerating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the rating thegreater visual yield appearance.

Definitions for Area of Adaptability

When referring to area of adaptability, such term is used to describethe location with the environmental conditions that would be well suitedfor this maize line. Area of adaptability is based on a number offactors, for example: days to maturity, insect resistance, diseaseresistance, and drought resistance. Area of adaptability does notindicate that the maize line will grow in every location within the areaof adaptability or that it will not grow outside the area.

Central Corn Belt: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana

Drylands: non-irrigated areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma

Eastern U.S.: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and WestVirginia

North central U.S.: Minnesota and Wisconsin

Northeast: Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Ontario and Quebec Canada

Northwest U.S.: North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon,Montana, Utah, and Idaho

South central U.S.: Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas

Southeast U.S.: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana

Southwest U.S.: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona

Western U.S.: Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and California

Maritime Europe: Northern France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands andAustria

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

All tables discussed in the Detailed Description of the Invention andFurther Embodiments section can found at the end of the section.

Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of PH7GD

Inbred maize line PH7GD is a yellow, dent maize inbred with some flintcharacteristics that may be used as either a male or female in theproduction of the first generation F1 maize hybrids although PH7GD maybe best suited for use as a female. Inbred maize line PH7GD is bestadapted to the Northwest United States, Canada and Europe, and can beused to produce hybrids with approximately 81 maturity based on theComparative Relative Maturity Rating System for harvest moisture ofgrain. Inbred maize line PH7GD demonstrates good seedling vigor, veryearly flowering, good roots and stalks, and as parent good female yieldfor its maturity as an inbred per se. In hybrid combination, inbredPH7GD demonstrates very high grain and silage yield for its maturity,good early vigor, early flowering, good root and stalk lodgingtolerance.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence for all the traits as described in the VarietyDescription Information (Table 1, found at the end of the section). Theinbred has been self-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number ofgenerations with careful attention paid to uniformity of plant type toensure the homozygosity and phenotypic stability necessary for use incommercial hybrid seed production. The line has been increased both byhand and in isolated fields with continued observation for uniformity.No variant traits have been observed or are expected in PH7GD.

Inbred maize line PH7GD, being substantially homozygous, can bereproduced by planting seeds of the line, growing the resulting maizeplants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions withadequate isolation, and harvesting the resulting seed using techniquesfamiliar to the agricultural arts.

Genotypic Characteristics of PH7GD

In addition to phenotypic observations, a plant can also be identifiedby its genotype. The genotype of a plant can be characterized through agenetic marker profile, which can identify plants of the same variety ora related variety, or be used to determine or validate a pedigree. TheSSR profile of Inbred PH7GD can be found in Table 2 at the end of thissection.

As a result of inbreeding, PH7GD is substantially homozygous. Thishomozygosity has been characterized at the loci shown in the markerprofile provided herein. An F1 hybrid made with PH7GD would comprise themarker profile of PH7GD shown herein. This is because an F1 hybrid isthe sum of its inbred parents, e.g., if one inbred parent is homozygousfor allele x at a particular locus, and the other inbred parent ishomozygous for allele y at that locus, the F1 hybrid will be x.y(heterozygous) at that locus. The profile can therefore be used toidentify hybrids comprising PH7GD as a parent, since such hybrids willcomprise two sets of alleles, one set of which will be from PH7GD. Thedetermination of the male set of alleles and the female set of allelesmay be made by profiling the hybrid and the pericarp of the hybrid seed,which is composed of maternal parent cells. The paternal parent profileis obtained by subtracting the pericarp profile from the hybrid profile.

Subsequent generations of progeny produced by selection and breeding areexpected to be of genotype x (homozygous), y (homozygous), or x.y(heterozygous) for these locus positions. When the F1 plant is used toproduce an inbred, the resulting inbred should be either x or y for thatallele. In that regard, a unique allele or combination of alleles uniqueto that inbred can be used to identify progeny plants that retain thoseunique alleles or combinations of alleles.

Therefore, in accordance with the above, an embodiment of this inventionis a PH7GD progeny maize plant or plant part that is a first generationhybrid maize plant comprising two sets of alleles, wherein one set ofthe alleles is the same as PH7GD at all of the SSR loci listed in Table2. A maize cell wherein one set of the alleles is the same as PH7GD atall of the SSR loci listed in Table 2 is also an embodiment of theinvention. This maize cell may be a part of a hybrid seed produced bycrossing PH7GD with another inbred maize plant.

Genetic marker profiles can be obtained by techniques such asRestriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly AmplifiedPolymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms(AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to asMicrosatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Forexample, see Berry, Don, et al., “Assessing Probability of AncestryUsing Simple Sequence Repeat Profiles: Applications to Maize Hybrids andInbreds”, Genetics, 2002, 161:813–824, and Berry, Don, et al.,“Assessing Probability of Ancestry Using Simple Sequence RepeatProfiles: Applications to Maize Inbred Lines and Soybean Varieties”,Genetics, 2003, 165: 331–342, which are incorporated by referenceherein.

Particular markers used for these purposes are not limited to the set ofmarkers disclosed herein, but may include any type of marker and markerprofile which provides a means of distinguishing varieties. In additionto being used for identification of Inbred Line PH7GD, a hybrid producedthrough the use of PH7GD, and the identification or verification ofpedigree for progeny plants produced through the use of PH7GD, thegenetic marker profile is also useful in further breeding and indeveloping an introgressed trait conversion of PH7GD.

Means of performing genetic marker profiles using SSR polymorphisms arewell known in the art. SSRs are genetic markers based on polymorphismsin repeated nucleotide sequences, such as microsatellites. A markersystem based on SSRs can be highly informative in linkage analysisrelative to other marker systems in that multiple alleles may bepresent. Another advantage of this type of marker is that, through useof flanking primers, detection of SSRs can be achieved, for example, bythe polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thereby eliminating the need forlabor-intensive Southern hybridization. The PCR detection is done by useof two oligonucleotide primers flanking the polymorphic segment ofrepetitive DNA. Repeated cycles of heat denaturation of the DNA followedby annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences at lowtemperatures, and extension of the annealed primers with DNA polymerase,comprise the major part of the methodology.

Following amplification, markers can be scored by electrophoresis of theamplification products. Scoring of marker genotype is based on the sizeof the amplified fragment, which may be measured by the base pair weightor molecular weight of the fragment. While variation in the primer usedor in laboratory procedures can affect the reported fragment size,relative values should remain constant regardless of the specific primeror laboratory used. When comparing lines it is preferable if all SSRprofiles are performed in the same lab. The SSR analyses reported hereinwere conducted in-house at Pioneer Hi-Bred. An SSR service is availableto the public on a contractual basis by DNA Landmarks inSaint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada (formerly Paragen, CeleraAgGen, Perkin-Elmer AgGen, Linkage Genetics and NPI).

Primers used for the SSRs reported herein are publicly available and maybe found in the Maize GDB on the World Wide Web at maizegdb.org(sponsored by the USDA Agricultural Research Service), in Sharopova etal. (Plant Mol. Biol. 48 (5–6):463–481), Lee et al (Plant Mol. Biol. 48(5–6); 453–461), or may be constructed from sequences if reportedherein. Primers may be constructed from publicly available sequenceinformation. Some marker information may also be available from DNALandmarks.

Map information is provided by bin number as reported in the Maize GDBfor the IBM 2 and/or IBM 2 Neighbors maps. The bin number digits to theleft of decimal point represent the chromosome on which such marker islocated, and the digits to the right of the decimal represent thelocation on such chromosome. A bin number.xx designation indicates thatthe bin location on that chromosome is not known. Map positions are alsoavailable on the Maize GDB for a variety of different mappingpopulations.

PH7GD and its plant parts can be identified through molecular markerprofile. An inbred corn plant cell having the SSR genetic marker profileshown in Table 2 is an embodiment of the invention. Such cell may beeither diploid or haploid.

Also encompassed within the scope of the invention are plants and plantparts substantially benefiting from the use of PH7GD in theirdevelopment, such as PH7GD comprising a introgressed trait throughbackcross conversion or transformation, and which may be identified byhaving an SSR molecular marker profile with a high percent identity toPH7GD, such as at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%,89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% identity.Likewise, percent similarity at these percentages may be used toidentify hybrid and other non-inbred plants produced by the use ofPH7GD.

An embodiment of this invention is an inbred PH7GD progeny maize plantor plant part comprising the same homozygous alleles as the plant orplant part of PH7GD for at least 90% of the SSR loci listed in Table 2.A plant cell comprising the same homozygous alleles as a plant cell ofPH7GD for at least 90% of the SSR loci listed in Table 2 is also anembodiment of this invention. In these specific embodiments, 90% mayalso be replaced by any integer or partial integer percent of 80% orgreater as listed above. One means of producing such a progeny plant,plant part or cell is through the backcrossing and/or transformationmethods described herein.

Similarly, an embodiment of this invention is a PH7GD progeny maizeplant or plant part comprising at least one allele per locus that is thesame allele as the plant or plant part of PH7GD for at least 90% of theSSR loci listed in Table 2. This 10 progeny plant may be a hybrid. Aprogeny or hybrid plant cell wherein at least one allele per locus thatis the same allele as the plant cell PH7GD for at least 90% of the SSRloci listed in Table 2 is also a specific embodiment of this invention.In these specific embodiments, 90% may also be replaced by any integerpercent listed above. One means of producing such a progeny or hybridplant, plant part or cell is through the backcrossing and/ortransformation methods described herein.

In addition, the SSR profile of PH7GD also can be used to identifyessentially derived varieties and other progeny lines developed from theuse of PH7GD, as well as cells and other plant parts thereof. Progenyplants and plant parts produced using PH7GD may be identified by havinga molecular marker profile of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%,55%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%,73%, 74%, 75%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%,90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% geneticcontribution from inbred line PH7GD, as measured by either percentidentity or percent similarity.

Comparing PH7GD to Other Inbreds

A breeder uses various methods to help determine which plants should beselected from segregating populations and ultimately which inbred lineswill be used to develop hybrids for commercialization. In addition toknowledge of the germplasm and plant genetics, a part of the selectionprocess is dependent on experimental design coupled with the use ofstatistical analysis. Experimental design and statistical analysis areused to help determine which plants, which family of plants, and finallywhich inbred lines and hybrid combinations are significantly better ordifferent for one or more traits of interest. Experimental designmethods are used to assess error so that differences between two inbredlines or two hybrid lines can be more accurately evaluated. Statisticalanalysis includes the calculation of mean values, determination of thestatistical significance of the sources of variation, and thecalculation of the appropriate variance components. Either a five or aone percent significance level is customarily used to determine whethera difference that occurs for a given trait is real or due to theenvironment or experimental error. One of ordinary skill in the art ofplant breeding would know how to evaluate the traits of two plantvarieties to determine if there is no significant difference between thetwo traits expressed by those varieties. For example, see Fehr, Walt,Principles of Cultivar Development, p. 261–286 (1987) which isincorporated herein by reference. Mean trait values may be used todetermine whether trait differences are significant. Trait values shouldpreferably be measured on plants grown under the same environmentalconditions, and environmental conditions should be appropriate for thetraits or traits being evaluated. Sufficient selection pressure shouldbe present for optimum measurement of traits of interest such asherbicide, insect or disease resistance. Similarly, an introgressedtrait conversion of PH7GD for resistance, such as herbicide resistance,should not be compared to PH7GD in the presence of the herbicide whencomparing non-resistance related traits such as plant height and yield.

In Table 3, data from traits and characteristics of inbred maize linePH7GD per se are given and compared to other maize inbred lines andhybrids. The following are the results of these comparisons:

The results in Table 3A compare inbred PH7GD to inbred PH9AH. Theresults show inbred PH7GD has significantly different yield as a percentof mean yield, number of growing degree units required to achieve 50%pollen shed, and tassel size compared to PH9AH.

The results in Table 3B compare inbred PH7GD to inbred PHTW6. Theresults show inbred PH7GD has a numerically different plant height,tassel size and number of growing degree units required to achieve 50%pollen shed when compared to inbred PHTW6.

The results in Table 3C compare inbred PH7GD to inbred PHDN7. Theresults show inbred PH7GD differs significantly from PHDN7 in a numberof traits including the number of growing degree units required toachieve 50% pollen shed, tassel size and plant height.

The results in Table 3D compare inbred PH7GD to inbred PH76T. Theresults show inbred PH7GD differs significantly from PH76T in a numberof traits including the number of growing degree units required toachieve 50% pollen shed, tassel size, and ear height.

Development of Maize Hybrids Using PH7GD

A single cross maize hybrid results from the cross of two inbred lines,each of which has a genotype that complements the genotype of the other.The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F1. In thedevelopment of commercial hybrids in a maize plant breeding program,only the F1 hybrid plants are sought. F1 hybrids are more vigorous thantheir inbred parents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, can be manifestedin many polygenic traits, including increased vegetative growth andincreased yield.

PH7GD may be used to produce hybrid maize. One such embodiment is themethod of crossing inbred maize line PH7GD with another maize plant,such as a different maize inbred line, to form a first generation F1hybrid seed. The first generation F1 hybrid seed, plant and plant partproduced by this method is an embodiment of the invention. The firstgeneration F1 seed, plant and plant part will comprise an essentiallycomplete set of the alleles of inbred line PH7GD. One of ordinary skillin the art can utilize either breeder books or molecular methods toidentify a particular F1 hybrid plant produced using inbred line PH7GD.Further, one of ordinary skill in the art may also produce F1 hybridswith transgenic, male sterile and/or backcross conversions of inbredline PH7GD.

The development of a maize hybrid in a maize plant breeding programinvolves three steps: (1) the selection of plants from various germplasmpools for initial breeding crosses; (2) the selfing of the selectedplants from the breeding crosses for several generations to produce aseries of inbred lines, such as PH7GD, which, although different fromeach other, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing theselected inbred lines with different inbred lines to produce thehybrids. During the inbreeding process in maize, the vigor of the linesdecreases, and so one would not be likely to use PH7GD directly toproduce grain. However, vigor is restored when PH7GD is crossed to adifferent inbred line to produce a commercial F1 hybrid. An importantconsequence of the homozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred line isthat the hybrid between a defined pair of inbreds may be reproducedindefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents ismaintained.

PH7GD may be used to produce a single cross hybrid, a three-way hybridor a double cross hybrid. A single cross hybrid is produced when twoinbred lines are crossed to produce the F1 progeny. A double crosshybrid is produced from four inbred lines crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D)and then the two F1 hybrids are crossed again (A×B)×(C×D). A three-waycross hybrid is produced from three inbred lines where two of the inbredlines are crossed (A×B) and then the resulting F1 hybrid is crossed withthe third inbred (A×B)×C. In each case, pericarp tissue from the femaleparent will be a part of and protect the hybrid seed.

Combining Ability of PH7GD

Combining ability of a line, as well as the performance of the line perse, is a factor in the selection of improved maize inbreds. Combiningability refers to a line's contribution as a parent when crossed withother lines to form hybrids. The hybrids formed for the purpose ofselecting superior lines may be referred to as test crosses, and includecomparisons to other hybrid varieties grown in the same environment(same cross, location and time of planting). One way of measuringcombining ability is by using values based in part on the overall meanof a number of test crosses weighted by number of experiment andlocation combinations in which the hybrid combinations occurs. The meanmay be adjusted to remove environmental effects and known geneticrelationships among the lines.

General combining ability provides an overall score for the inbred overa large number of test crosses. Specific combining ability providesinformation on hybrid combinations formed by PH7GD and a specific inbredparent. A line such as PH7GD which exhibits good general combiningability may be used in a large number of hybrid combinations.

A general combining ability report for inbred PH7GD is provided in Table4. This data represents the overall mean value for these traits overhundreds of test crosses. Table 4 demonstrates that inbred PH7GD showsgood general combining ability for hybrid production.

Hybrid Comparisons

These hybrid comparisons represent specific hybrid crosses with PH7GDand a comparison of these specific hybrids with other hybrids withfavorable characteristics. These comparisons illustrate the goodspecific combining ability of PH7GD.

The results in Table 5A compare a specific hybrid for which inbred PH7GDis a parent and a second hybrid, 39H84. The results show that the hybridcontaining inbred PH7GD produced significantly different results overmultiple traits including moisture, ear height and test weight.

The results in Table 5B compare a specific hybrid for which inbred PH7GDis a parent and a second hybrid, 39B01. The results show that the hybridcontaining inbred PH7GD produced significantly different results overmultiple traits including yield, moisture, number of growing degreeunits required to achieve 50% pollen shed and increased late seasonhealth.

The results in Table 5C compare a specific hybrid for which inbred PH7GDis a parent and a second hybrid, 39H84. The results show that the hybridcontaining inbred PH7GD produced significantly different results overnumerous traits including yield, moisture, plant height and test weight.

The results in Table 5D compare a specific hybrid for which inbred PH7GDis a parent and a second hybrid, 39B01. The results show that the hybridcontaining inbred PH7GD produced significantly different results overmultiple traits including a higher yield, increased moisture, ear heightand test weight.

Introgression of a New Locus or Trait into PH7GD.

PH7GD represents a new base genetic line into which a new locus or traitmay be introgressed. Direct transformation and backcrossing representtwo important methods that can be used to accomplish such anintrogression. The term backcross conversion and single locus conversionare used interchangeably to designate the product of a backcrossingprogram.

Backcross Conversions of PH7GD

A backcross conversion of PH7GD occurs when DNA sequences are introducedthrough backcrossing (Hallauer et al, 1988), with PH7GD utilized as therecurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNA sequencesmay be introduced through backcrossing techniques. A backcrossconversion may produce a plant with a trait or locus conversion in atleast one or more backcrosses, including at least 2 crosses, at least 3crosses, at least 4 crosses, at least 5 crosses and the like. Molecularmarker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce thenumber of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion. Forexample, see Openshaw, S. J. et al., Marker-assisted Selection inBackcross Breeding. In: Proceedings Symposium of the Analysis ofMolecular Data, August 1994, Crop Science Society of America, Corvallis,Oreg., where it is demonstrated that a backcross conversion can be madein as few as two backcrosses.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type oftrait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes as vs.unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, the type ofinheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear) and the types of parents includedin the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat for single gene traits that are relatively easy to classify, thebackcross method is effective and relatively easy to manage. (SeeHallauer et al. in Corn and Corn Improvement, Sprague and Dudley, ThirdEd. 1998). Desired traits that may be transferred through backcrossconversion include, but are not limited to, waxy starch, sterility(nuclear and cytoplasmic), fertility restoration, grain color (white),nutritional enhancements, drought tolerance, nitrogen utilization,altered fatty acid profile, increased digestibility, low phytate,industrial enhancements, disease resistance (bacterial, fungal orviral), insect resistance, herbicide resistance and yield enhancements.In addition, an introgression site itself, such as an FRT site, Lox siteor other site specific integration site, may be inserted by backcrossingand utilized for direct insertion of one or more genes of interest intoa specific plant variety. In some embodiments of the invention, thenumber of loci that may be backcrossed into PH7GD is at least 1, 2, 3,4, or 5 and/or no more than 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2. A single loci may containseveral transgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, inthe same expression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicideresistance. The gene for herbicide resistance may be used as aselectable marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locusconversion of site specific integration system allows for theintegration of multiple genes at the converted loci.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of adominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containingthe trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a traitassociated with a dominant allele. Transgenes transferred viabackcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and arerelatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that istransferred via a recessive allele, such as the waxy starchcharacteristic, requires growing and selfing the first backcrossgeneration to determine which plants carry the recessive alleles.Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing in successivebackcross generations to determine the presence of the locus ofinterest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to give purebreeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although a backcrossconversion with a stably introgressed trait may also be maintained byfurther backcrossing to the recurrent parent with selection for theconverted trait.

Along with selection for the trait of interest, progeny are selected forthe phenotype of the recurrent parent. While occasionally additionalpolynucleotide sequences or genes may be transferred along with thebackcross conversion, the backcross conversion line “fits into the samehybrid combination as the recurrent parent inbred line and contributesthe effect of the additional gene added through the backcross.” Poehlmanet al. (1995, page 334). It has been proposed that in general thereshould be at least four backcrosses when it is important that therecovered lines be essentially identical to the recurrent parent exceptfor the characteristic being transferred (Fehr 1987, Principles ofCultivar Development). However, as noted above, the number ofbackcrosses necessary can be reduced with the use of molecular markers.Other factors, such as a genetically similar donor parent, may alsoreduce the number of backcrosses necessary.

One process for adding or modifying a trait or locus in maize inbredline PH7GD comprises crossing PH7GD plants grown from PH7GD seed withplants of another maize line that comprise the desired trait or locus,selecting F1 progeny plants that comprise the desired trait or locus toproduce selected F1 progeny plants, crossing the selected progeny plantswith the PH7GD plants to produce backcross progeny plants, selecting forbackcross progeny plants that have the desired trait or locus and themorphological characteristics of maize inbred line PH7GD to produceselected backcross progeny plants; and backcrossing to PH7GD three ormore times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny plants that comprise said trait or locus. The modified PH7GD maybe further characterized as having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of maize inbred line PH7GD listed in Table 1 asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions and/or may be characterized by percentsimilarity or identity to PH7GD as determined by SSR markers. The abovemethod may be utilized with fewer backcrosses in appropriate situations,such as when the donor parent is highly related or markers are used inthe selection step. Desired traits that may be used include thosenucleic acids known in the art, some of which are listed herein, thatwill affect traits through nucleic acid expression or inhibition.Desired loci include the introgression of FRT, Lox and other sites forsite specific integration, which may also affect a desired trait if afunctional nucleic acid is inserted at the integration site.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes describedherein may be used to produce F1 hybrid maize seed by adding a step atthe end of the process that comprises crossing PH7GD with theintrogressed trait or locus with a different maize plant and harvestingthe resultant F1 hybrid maize seed.

Male Sterility and Hybrid Seed Production

Hybrid seed production requires elimination or inactivation of pollenproduced by the female inbred parent. Incomplete removal or inactivationof the pollen provides the potential for self-pollination. A reliablemethod of controlling male fertility in plants offers the opportunityfor improved seed production.

PH7GD can be produced in a male-sterile form. There are several ways inwhich a maize plant can be manipulated so that it is male sterile. Theseinclude use of manual or mechanical emasculation (or detasseling), useof one or more genetic factors that confer male sterility, includingcytoplasmic genetic and/or nuclear genetic male sterility, use ofgametocides and the like. A male sterile inbred designated PH7GD mayinclude one or more genetic factors, which result in cytoplasmic geneticand/or nuclear genetic male sterility. All of such embodiments arewithin the scope of the present claims. The male sterility may be eitherpartial or complete male sterility.

Hybrid maize seed is often produced by a male sterility systemincorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate strips of twomaize inbreds are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearing tassels areremoved from one of the inbreds (female). Provided that there issufficient isolation from sources of foreign maize pollen, the ears ofthe detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the other inbred(male), and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will form hybridplants.

The laborious detasseling process can be avoided by using cytoplasmicmale-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMS inbred are male sterile as aresult of genetic factors in the cytoplasm, as opposed to the nucleus,and so nuclear linked genes are not transferred during backcrossing.Thus, this characteristic is inherited exclusively through the femaleparent in maize plants, since only the female provides cytoplasm to thefertilized seed. CMS plants are fertilized with pollen from anotherinbred that is not male-sterile. Pollen from the second inbred may ormay not contribute genes that make the hybrid plants male-fertile, andeither option may be preferred depending on the intended use of thehybrid. The same hybrid seed, a portion produced from detasseled fertilemaize and a portion produced using the CMS system, can be blended toinsure that adequate pollen loads are available for fertilization whenthe hybrid plants are grown. CMS systems have been successfully usedsince the 1950's, and the male sterility trait is routinely backcrossedinto inbred lines. See Wych, p. 585–586, 1998.

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterilityavailable, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations withinthe genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar et al. and chromosomal translocations asdescribed by Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. Inaddition to these methods, Albertsen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,068,describe a system of nuclear male sterility which includes: identifyinga gene which is critical to male fertility; silencing this native genewhich is critical to male fertility; removing the native promoter fromthe essential male fertility gene and replacing it with an induciblepromoter; inserting this genetically engineered gene back into theplant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterile because theinducible promoter is not “on” resulting in the male fertility gene notbeing transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning “on”,the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male fertilityto be transcribed.

These, and the other methods of conferring genetic male sterility in theart, each possess their own benefits and drawbacks. Some other methodsuse a variety of approaches such as delivering into the plant a geneencoding a cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissue specificpromoter or an antisense system in which a gene critical to fertility isidentified and an antisense to that gene is inserted in the plant (see:Fabinjanski, et al. EPO 89/3010153.8 publication no. 329,308 and PCTapplication PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828).

Another system for controlling male sterility makes use of gametocides.Gametocides are not a genetic system, but rather a topical applicationof chemicals. These chemicals affect cells that are critical to malefertility. The application of these chemicals affects fertility in theplants only for the growing season in which the gametocide is applied(see Carlson, Glenn R., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application of thegametocide, timing of the application and genotype specificity oftenlimit the usefulness of the approach and it is not appropriate in allsituations.

Incomplete control over male fertility may result in self-pollinatedseed being unintentionally harvested and packaged with hybrid seed. Thiswould typically be only female parent seed, because the male plant isgrown in rows that are typically destroyed prior to seed development.Once the seed from the hybrid bag is planted, it is possible to identifyand select these self-pollinated plants. These self-pollinated plantswill be genetically equivalent to one of the inbred lines used toproduce the hybrid. Though the possibility of inbred PH7GD beingincluded in a hybrid seed bag exists, the occurrence is very low becausemuch care is taken by seed companies to avoid such inclusions. It isworth noting that hybrid seed is sold to growers for the production ofgrain or forage and not for breeding or seed production. Theseself-pollinated plants can be identified and selected by one skilled inthe art due to their less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/orreproductive characteristics, including shorter plant height, small earsize, ear and kernel shape, cob color, or other characteristics.

Identification of these self-pollinated lines can also be accomplishedthrough molecular marker analyses. See, “The Identification of FemaleSelfs in Hybrid Maize: A Comparison Using Electrophoresis andMorphology”, Smith, J. S. C. and Wych, R. D., Seed Science andTechnology 14, pp. 1–8 (1995), the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference. Through these technologies, thehomozygosity of the self pollinated line can be verified by analyzingallelic composition at various loci along the genome. Those methodsallow for rapid identification of the invention disclosed herein. Seealso, “Identification of Atypical Plants in Hybrid Maize Seed byPostcontrol and Electrophoresis” Sarca, V. et al., Probleme de GeneticaTeoritica si Aplicata Vol. 20 (1) p. 29–42.

An embodiment of this invention is a process for producing seed ofPH7GD, comprising planting a collection of seed comprising seed of ahybrid, one of whose parents is inbred PH7GD, said collection alsocomprising seed of said inbred, growing plants from said collection ofseed, identifying inbred parent plants, selecting said inbred parentplant; and controlling pollination to preserve the homozygosity of saidinbred parent plant.

Transformation

The advent of new molecular biological techniques has allowed theisolation and characterization of genetic elements with specificfunctions, such as encoding specific protein products. Scientists in thefield of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering thegenome of plants to contain and express foreign genetic elements, oradditional, or modified versions of native or endogenous geneticelements in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner.Any DNA sequences, whether from a different species or from the samespecies, that are inserted into the genome using transformation arereferred to herein collectively as “transgenes”. In some embodiments ofthe invention, a transformed variant of PH7GD may contain at least onetransgene but could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10and/or no more than 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2.Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods for producingtransgenic plants have been developed, and the present invention alsorelates to transformed versions of the claimed inbred maize line PH7GDas well as hybrid combinations thereof.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, includingbiological and physical plant transformation protocols. See, forexample, Miki et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA intoPlants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick,B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages67–88 and Armstrong, “The First Decade of Maize Transformation: A Reviewand Future Perspective” (Maydica 44:101–109, 1999). In addition,expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissuetransformation and regeneration of plants are available. See, forexample, Gruber et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation” in Methods inPlant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick, B. R. and Thompson, J.E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 89–119.

The most prevalent types of plant transformation involve theconstruction of an expression vector. Such a vector comprises a DNAsequence that contains a gene under the control of or operatively linkedto a regulatory element, for example a promoter. The vector may containone or more genes and one or more regulatory elements.

A genetic trait which has been engineered into the genome of aparticular maize plant using transformation techniques, could be movedinto the genome of another line using traditional breeding techniquesthat are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, abackcrossing approach is commonly used to move a transgene from atransformed maize plant to an elite inbred line, and the resultingprogeny would then comprise the transgene(s). Also, if an inbred linewas used for the transformation then the transgenic plants could becrossed to a different inbred in order to produce a transgenic hybridmaize plant.

Various genetic elements can be introduced into the plant genome usingtransformation. These elements include, but are not limited to genes;coding sequences; inducible, constitutive, and tissue specificpromoters; enhancing sequences; and signal and targeting sequences. Forexample, see the traits, genes and transformation methods listed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,118,055.

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreignprotein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques forthe selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are wellunderstood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants that areharvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein then can beextracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Proteinextraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods whichare discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114: 92–6(1981).

A genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional RestrictionFragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)analysis, Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNP) that identifies the approximate chromosomal locationof the integrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in thisregard, see Glick and Thompson, METHODS IN PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ANDBIOTECHNOLOGY 269–284 (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993).

Wang et al. discuss “Large Scale Identification, Mapping and Genotypingof Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Human Genome”, Science,280:1077–1082, 1998, and similar capabilities are becoming increasinglyavailable for the corn genome. Map information concerning chromosomallocation is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenicplant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made withother germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared tosimilar maps for suspect plants to determine if the latter have a commonparentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involvehybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which areconventional techniques. SNPs may also be used alone or in combinationwith other techniques.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, plants can be geneticallyengineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Throughthe transformation of maize the expression of genes can be modulated toenhance disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide resistance,agronomic, grain quality and other traits. Transformation can also beused to insert DNA sequences which control or help controlmale-sterility. DNA sequences native to maize as well as non-native DNAsequences can be transformed into maize and used to modulate levels ofnative or non-native proteins. Various promoters, targeting sequences,enhancing sequences, and other DNA sequences can be inserted into themaize genome for the purpose of modulating the expression of proteins.Reduction of the activity of specific genes (also known as genesilencing, or gene suppression) is desirable for several aspects ofgenetic engineering in plants.

Many techniques for gene silencing are well known to one of skill in theart, including but not limited to antisense technology (see, e.g.,Sheehy et al. (1988) PNAS USA 85:8805–8809; and U.S. Pat. Nos.5,107,065; 5,453, 566; and 5,759,829); co-suppression (e.g., Taylor(1997) Plant Cell 9:1245; Jorgensen (1990) Trends Biotech. 8(12):340–344; Flavell (1994) PNAS USA 91:3490–3496; Finnegan et al.(1994) Bio/Technology 12: 883–888; and Neuhuber et al. (1994) Mol. Gen.Genet. 244:230–241); RNA interference (Napoli et al. (1990) Plant Cell2:279–289; U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,323; Sharp (1999) Genes Dev. 13:139–141;Zamore et al. (2000) Cell 101:25–33; and Montgomery et al. (1998) PNASUSA 95:15502–15507), virus-induced gene silencing (Burton, et al. (2000)Plant Cell 12:691–705; and Baulcombe (1999) Curr. Op. Plant Bio.2:109–113); target-RNA-specific ribozymes (Haseloff et al. (1988) Nature334: 585–591); hairpin structures (Smith et al. (2000) Nature407:319–320; WO 99/53050; and WO 98/53083); ribozymes (Steinecke et al.((1992) EMBO J. 11:1525; and Perriman et al. ((1993) Antisense Res. Dev.3:253); oligonucleotide mediated targeted modification (e.g., WO03/076574 and WO 99/25853); Zn-finger targeted molecules (e.g., WO01/52620; WO 03/048345; and WO 00/42219); and other methods orcombinations of the above methods known to those of skill in the art.

Exemplary transgenes useful for genetic engineering include, but are notlimited to, those categorized below.

1. Transgenes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and thatEncode:

(A) Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activatedby specific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene(R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr)gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with clonedresistance gene to engineer plants that are resistant to specificpathogen strains. See, for example Jones et al., Science 266: 789 (1994)(cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum);Martin et al., Science 262: 1432 (1993) (tomato Pto gene for resistanceto Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes a protein kinase); Mindrinoset al., Cell 78: 1089 (1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene for resistance toPseudomonas syringae). A plant resistant to a disease is one that ismore resistant to a pathogen as compared to the wild type plant.

(B) A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or asynthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser et al.,Gene 48: 109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence ofa Bt delta-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encodingdelta-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type CultureCollection (Rockville, Md.), for example, under ATCC Accession Nos.40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998. Other examples of Bacillus thuringiensistransgenes being genetically engineered are given in the followingpatents and patent applications and hereby are incorporated by referencefor this purpose: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,188,960; 5,689,052; 5,880,275; WO91/114778; WO 99/31248; WO 01/12731; WO 99/24581; WO 97/40162 and U.S.application Ser. Nos. 10/032,717; 10/414,637; and 10/606,320.

(C) An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid andjuvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or anantagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the disclosure byHammock et al., Nature 344: 458 (1990), of baculovirus expression ofcloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.

(D) An insect-specific peptide which, upon expression, disrupts thephysiology of the affected pest. For example, see the disclosures ofRegan, J. Biol. Chem. 269: 9 (1994) (expression cloning yields DNAcoding for insect diuretic hormone receptor), and Pratt et al., Biochem.Biophys. Res. Comm. 163: 1243 (1989) (an allostatin is identified inDiploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317 to Tomalski etal., who disclose genes encoding insect-specific toxins.

(E) An enzyme responsible for an hyperaccumulation of a monterpene, asesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivativeor another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

(F) An enzyme involved in the modification, including thepost-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; forexample, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme,a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, aphosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, achitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See PCTapplication WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et al., which discloses thenucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA molecules which containchitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, from the ATCCunder Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. See also Kramer et al., InsectBiochem. Molec. Biol. 23: 691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide sequenceof a cDNA encoding tobacco hookworm chitinase, and Kawalleck et al.,Plant Molec. Biol. 21: 673 (1993), who provide the nucleotide sequenceof the parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.

(G) A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, see thedisclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24: 757 (1994), ofnucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griess etal., Plant Physiol. 104: 1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotidesequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

(H) A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT application WO 95/16776(disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin which inhibit fungalplant pathogens) and PCT application WO 95/18855 (teaches syntheticantimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance), the respectivecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for this purpose.

(I) A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker. Forexample, see the disclosure by Jaynes et al., Plant Sci. 89: 43 (1993),of heterologous expression of a cecropin-beta lytic peptide analog torender transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.

(J) A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. Forexample, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plantcells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease developmenteffected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, aswell as by related viruses. See Beachy et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol.28: 451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upontransformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus,tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etchvirus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus. Id.

(K) An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom.Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in theinsect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect. Cf.Taylor et al., Abstract #497, SEVENTH INT'L SYMPOSIUM ON MOLECULARPLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1994) (enzymaticinactivation in transgenic tobacco via production of single-chainantibody fragments).

(L) A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki et al.,Nature 366: 469 (1993), who show that transgenic plants expressingrecombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

(M) A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogenor a parasite. Thus, fungal endo alpha-1,4-D-polygalacturonasesfacilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release bysolubilizing plant cell wall homo-alpha-1,4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb etal., Bio/Technology 10: 1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization ofa gene which encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein isdescribed by Toubart et al., Plant J. 2: 367 (1992).

(N) A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. Forexample, Logemann et al., Bio/Technology 10: 305 (1992), have shown thattransgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating gene havean increased resistance to fungal disease.

(O) Genes involved in the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) Responseand/or the pathogenesis related genes. Briggs, S., Current Biology, 5(2)(1995).

(P) Antifungal genes (Cornelissen and Melchers, Pl. Physiol.101:709–712, (1993) and Parijs et al., Planta 183:258–264, (1991) andBushnell et al., Can. J. of Plant Path. 20(2):137–149 (1998).

(O) Detoxification genes, such as for fumonisin, beauvericin,moniliformin and zearalenone and their structurally related derivatives.For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,931.

(R) Cystatin and cysteine proteinase inhibitors.

(S) Defensin genes. See WO03000863.

(T) Genes conferring resistance to nematodes. See WO 03/033651 and Urwinet. al., Planta 204:472–479 (1998).

2. Transgenes that Confer Resistance to a Herbicide, for Example:

(A) A herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as animidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category codefor mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee et al.,EMBO J. 7: 1241 (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 80: 449(1990), respectively. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,011; 5,013,659;5,141,870; 5,767,361; 5,731,180; 5,304,732; 4,761,373; 5,331,107;5,928,937; and 5,378,824; and international publication WO 96/33270,which are incorporated herein by reference for this purpose.

(B) Glyphosate (resistance imparted by mutant5-enolpyruvl-3-phosphikimate synthase (EPSP) and aroA genes,respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate(phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyceshygroscopicus phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (bar) genes), andpyridinoxy or phenoxy proprionic acids and cycloshexones (ACCaseinhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 toShah et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSPSwhich can confer glyphosate resistance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,061 to Barryet al. also describes genes encoding EPSPS enzymes. See also U.S. Pat.No. 6,248,876 B1; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,040,497; 5,804,425; 5,633,435;5,145,783; 4,971,908; 5,312,910; 5,188,642; 4,940,835; 5,866,775;6,225,114 B1; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,130,366; 5,310,667; 4,535,060; 4,769,061;5,633,448; 5,510,471; Re. 36,449; RE 37,287 E; and U.S. Pat. No.5,491,288; and international publications WO 97/04103; WO 97/04114; WO00/66746; WO 01/66704; WO 00/66747 and WO 00/66748, which areincorporated herein by reference for this purpose. Glyphosate resistanceis also imparted to plants that express a gene that encodes a glyphosateoxido-reductase enzyme as described more fully in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,776,760 and 5,463,175, which are incorporated herein by reference forthis purpose. In addition glyphosate resistance can be imparted toplants by the over expression of genes encoding glyphosateN-acetyltransferase. See, for example, U.S. Application Ser. Nos.60/244,385; 60/377,175 and 60/377,719. A DNA molecule encoding a mutantaroA gene can be obtained under ATCC accession No. 39256, and thenucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,769,061 to Comai. European patent application No. 0 333 033 to Kumadaet al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 to Goodman et al. disclose nucleotidesequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer resistance toherbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The nucleotide sequence of aphosphinothricin-acetyl-transferase gene is provided in European PatentNo. 0 242 246 and 0 242 236 to Leemans et al. De Greef et al.,Bio/Technology 7: 61 (1989), describe the production of transgenicplants that express chimeric bar genes coding for phosphinothricinacetyl transferase activity. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,969,213;5,489,520; 5,550,318; 5,874,265; 5,919,675; 5,561,236; 5,648,477;5,646,024; 6,177,616 B1; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,903, which areincorporated herein by reference for this purpose. Exemplary genesconferring resistance to phenoxy proprionic acids and cycloshexones,such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop, are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and Acc1-S3genes described by Marshall et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 83: 435 (1992).

(C) A herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbAand gs+ genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibilla et al.,Plant Cell 3: 169 (1991), describe the transformation of Chlamydomonaswith plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotide sequences fornitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker, andDNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC AccessionNos. 53435, 67441 and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for aglutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes et al., Biochem. J.285:173 (1992).

(D) Acetohydroxy acid synthase, which has been found to make plants thatexpress this enzyme resistant to multiple types of herbicides, has beenintroduced into a variety of plants (see, e.g., Hattori et al. (1995)Mol Gen Genet 246:419). Other genes that confer tolerance to herbicidesinclude: a gene encoding a chimeric protein of rat cytochrome P4507A1and yeast NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (Shiota et al. (1994)Plant PhysiolPlant Physiol 106:17), genes for glutathione reductase andsuperoxide dismutase (Aono et al. (1995) Plant Cell Physiol 36:1687, andgenes for various phosphotransferases (Datta et al. (1992) Plant MolBiol 20:619).

(E) Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) is necessary for the productionof chlorophyll, which is necessary for all plant survival. The protoxenzyme serves as the target for a variety of herbicidal compounds. Theseherbicides also inhibit growth of all the different species of plantspresent, causing their total destruction. The development of plantscontaining altered protox activity which are resistant to theseherbicides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,306 B1; U.S. Pat. No.6,282,837 B1; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,373; and international publicationWO 01/12825, which are incorporated herein by reference for thispurpose.

3. Transgenes that Confer or Contribute to a Grain Trait, Such as:

(A) Modified fatty acid metabolism, for example, by

-   -   (1) Transforming a plant with an antisense gene of stearoyl-ACP        desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant. See        Knultzon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 2624 (1992),    -   (2) Elevating oleic acid via FAD-2 gene modification and/or        decreasing linolenic acid via FAD-3 gene modification (see U.S.        Pat. Nos. 6,063,947; 6,323,392; and WO 93/11245),    -   (3) Altering conjugated linolenic or linoleic acid content, such        as in WO 01/12800,    -   (4) Modifying LEC1, AGP, Dek1, Superal1, thioredoxin, and/or a        gamma zein knock out or mutant such as cs27 or TUSC 27. For        example, see WO 02/42424, WO 98/22604, WO 03/011015, U.S. Pat.        No. 6,423,886 and Rivera-Madrid, R. et. al. Proc. Natl. Acad.        Sci. 92:5620–5624 (1995).

(B) Decreased phytate content, for example, by the

-   -   (1) Introduction of a phytase-encoding gene would enhance        breakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the        transformed plant. For example, see Van Hartingsveldt et al.,        Gene 127: 87 (1993), for a disclosure of the nucleotide sequence        of an Aspergillus niger phytase gene.    -   (2) Introduction of a gene that reduces phytate content. In        maize, this, for example, could be accomplished, by cloning and        then re-introducing DNA associated with one or more of the        alleles, such as the LPA alleles, identified in maize mutants        characterized by low levels of phytic acid, such as in Raboy et        al., Maydica 35: 383 (1990) and/or by altering inositol kinase        activity as in WO 02/059324, US2003/0009011, WO 03/027243,        US2003/0079247 and WO 99/05298.

(C) Modified carbohydrate composition effected, for example, bytransforming plants with a gene coding for an enzyme that alters thebranching pattern of starch. See Shiroza et al., J. Bacteriol. 170: 810(1988) (nucleotide sequence of Streptococcus mutans fructosyltransferasegene), Steinmetz et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 200: 220 (1985) (nucleotidesequence of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene), Pen et al.,Bio/Technology 10: 292 (1992) (production of transgenic plants thatexpress Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase), Elliot et al., PlantMolec. Biol. 21: 515 (1993) (nucleotide sequences of tomato invertasegenes), Søgaard et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 22480 (1993) (site-directedmutagenesis of barley alpha-amylase gene), and Fisher et al., PlantPhysiol. 102: 1045 (1993) (maize endosperm starch branching enzyme 11).The fatty acid modification genes mentioned above may also be used toeffect starch content and/or composition through the interrelationshipof the starch and oil pathways.

(D) Altered antioxidant content or composition, such as alteration oftocopherol or tocotrienols. For example, see WO 00/68393 involving themanipulation of antioxidant levels through alteration of a phytl prenyltransferase and WO 03/082899 through alteration of a homogentisategeranyl geranyl transferase.

(E) Improved digestibility and/or starch extraction through modificationof UDP-D-xylose 4-epimerase, Fragile 1 and 2, Ref1, HCHL, C4H, such asin WO 99/10498.

4. Genes that Control Male-Sterility

(A) Introduction of a deacetylase gene under the control of atapetum-specific promoter and with the application of the chemicalN-Ac-PPT (WO 01/29237).

(B) Introduction of various stamen-specific promoters (WO 92/13956, WO92/13957).

(C) Introduction of the barnase and the barstar gene (Paul et al. PlantMol. Biol. 19:611–622, 1992).

5. Genes that create a site for site specific DNA integration. Thisincludes the introduction of FRT sites that may be used in the FLP/FRTsystem and/or Lox sites that may be used in the Cre/Loxp system. Forexample, see Lyznik, et al., Site-Specific Recombination for GeneticEngineering in Plants, Plant Cell Rep (2003) 21:925–932 and WO 99/25821,which are hereby incorporated by reference. Other systems that may beused include the Gin recombinase of phage Mu (Maeser et al., 1991), thePin recombinase of E. coli (Enomoto et al., 1983), and the R/RS systemof the pSR1 plasmid (Araki et al., 1992).6. Genes that affect growth characteristics, such as drought toleranceand nitrogen utilization. For example, see WO 00/73475 where water useefficiency is modulated through alteration of malate.Using PH7GD to Develop Other Maize Inbreds

Inbred maize lines such as PH7GD are typically developed for use in theproduction of hybrid maize lines. However, inbred lines such as PH7GDalso provide a source of breeding material that may be used to developnew maize inbred lines. Plant breeding techniques known in the art andused in a maize plant breeding program include, but are not limited to,recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection, mass selection,backcrossing, pedigree breeding, open pollination breeding, restrictionfragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhancedselection, making double haploids, and transformation. Oftencombinations of these techniques are used. The development of maizehybrids in a maize plant breeding program requires, in general, thedevelopment of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, andthe evaluation of the crosses. There are many analytical methodsavailable to evaluate the result of a cross. The oldest and mosttraditional method of analysis is the observation of phenotypic traitsbut genotypic analysis may also be used.

Using PH7GD in a Breeding Program

This invention is directed to methods for producing a maize plant bycrossing a first parent maize plant with a second parent maize plantwherein either the first or second parent maize plant is an inbred maizeplant of the line PH7GD. The other parent may be any other maize plant,such as another inbred line or a plant that is part of a synthetic ornatural population. Any such methods using the inbred maize line PH7GDare part of this invention: selfing, sibbing, backcrosses, massselection, pedigree breeding, bulk selection, hybrid production, crossesto populations, and the like. These methods are well known in the artand some of the more commonly used breeding methods are described below.Descriptions of breeding methods can also be found in one of severalreference books (e.g., Allard, Principles of Plant Breeding, 1960;Simmonds, Principles of Crop Improvement, 1979; Fehr, “Breeding Methodsfor Cultivar Development”, Production and Uses, 2^(nd) ed., Wilcoxeditor, 1987).

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such asPH7GD and one other elite inbred line having one or more desirablecharacteristics that is lacking or which complements PH7GD. If the twooriginal parents do not provide all the desired characteristics, othersources can be included in the breeding population. In the pedigreemethod, superior plants are selfed and selected in successive filialgenerations. In the succeeding filial generations the heterozygouscondition gives way to homogeneous lines as a result of self-pollinationand selection. Typically in the pedigree method of breeding, five ormore successive filial generations of selfing and selection ispracticed: F1→F2; F2→F3; F3→F4; F4→F₅, etc. After a sufficient amount ofinbreeding, successive filial generations will serve to increase seed ofthe developed inbred. Preferably, the inbred line comprises homozygousalleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

In addition to being used to create a backcross conversion, backcrossingcan also be used in combination with pedigree breeding to modify PH7GDand a hybrid that is made using the modified PH7GD. As discussedpreviously, backcrossing can be used to transfer one or morespecifically desirable traits from one line, the donor parent, to aninbred called the recurrent parent, which has overall good agronomiccharacteristics yet lacks that desirable trait or traits. However, thesame procedure can be used to move the progeny toward the genotype ofthe recurrent parent but at the same time retain many components of thenon-recurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at an early stage andproceeding with selfing and selection. For example, an F1, such as acommercial hybrid, is created. This commercial hybrid may be backcrossedto one of its parent lines to create a BC1 or BC2. Progeny are selfedand selected so that the newly developed inbred has many of theattributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of the desiredattributes of the non-recurrent parent. This approach leverages thevalue and strengths of the recurrent parent for use in new hybrids andbreeding.

Therefore, an embodiment of this invention is a method of making abackcross conversion of maize inbred line PH7GD, comprising the steps ofcrossing a plant of maize inbred line PH7GD with a donor plantcomprising a mutant gene or transgene conferring a desired trait,selecting an F1 progeny plant comprising the mutant gene or transgeneconferring the desired trait, and backcrossing the selected F1 progenyplant to a plant of maize inbred line PH7GD. This method may furthercomprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of maizeinbred line PH7GD and using the molecular marker profile to select for aprogeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile ofPH7GD. In the same manner, this method may be used to produce an F1hybrid seed by adding a final step of crossing the desired traitconversion of maize inbred line PH7GD with a different maize plant tomake F1 hybrid maize seed comprising a mutant gene or transgeneconferring the desired trait.

Recurrent Selection and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program toimprove a population of plants. PH7GD is suitable for use in a recurrentselection program. The method entails individual plants crosspollinating with each other to form progeny. The progeny are grown andthe superior progeny selected by any number of selection methods, whichinclude individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sib progeny, selfedprogeny and topcrossing. The selected progeny are cross pollinated witheach other to form progeny for another population. This population isplanted and again superior plants are selected to cross pollinate witheach other. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and therefore canbe repeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrentselection is to improve the traits of a population. The improvedpopulation can then be used as a source of breeding material to obtaininbred lines to be used in hybrids or used as parents for a syntheticcultivar. A synthetic cultivar is the resultant progeny formed by theintercrossing of several selected inbreds.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction withmolecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection seeds fromindividuals are selected based on phenotype and/or genotype. Theseselected seeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation.Bulk selection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot,allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk andthen using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the nextgeneration. Instead of self pollination, directed pollination could beused as part of the breeding program.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is one of many methods that could be used to introducenew traits into PH7GD. Mutations that occur spontaneously or areartificially induced can be useful sources of variability for a plantbreeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate ofmutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increasedby many different means including temperature, long-term seed storage,tissue culture conditions, radiation; such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g.cobalt 60 or cesium 137), neutrons, (product of nuclear fission byuranium 235 in an atomic reactor), Beta radiation (emitted fromradioisotopes such as phosphorus 32 or carbon 14), or ultravioletradiation (preferably from 2500 to 2900 nm), or chemical mutagens (suchas base analogues (5-bromo-uracil), related compounds (8-ethoxycaffeine), antibiotics (streptonigrin), alkylating agents (sulfurmustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines, sulfates,sulfonates, sulfones, lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid, oracridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis thetrait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditionalbreeding techniques, such as backcrossing. Details of mutation breedingcan be found in “Principals of Cultivar Development” Fehr, 1993Macmillan Publishing Company the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. In addition, mutations created in other lines maybe used to produce a backcross conversion of PH7GD that comprises suchmutation.

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Molecular markers, which includes markers identified through the use oftechniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats(SSRs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), may be used in plantbreeding methods utilizing PH7GD.

Isozyme Electrophoresis and RFLPs as discussed in Lee, M., “Inbred Linesof Maize and Their Molecular Markers,” The Maize Handbook,(Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc. 1994, at 423–432), have been widelyused to determine genetic composition. Isozyme Electrophoresis has arelatively low number of available markers and a low number of allelicvariants among maize inbreds. RFLPs allow more discrimination becausethey have a higher degree of allelic variation in maize and a largernumber of markers can be found. Both of these methods have been eclipsedby SSRs as discussed in Smith et al., “An evaluation of the utility ofSSR loci as molecular markers in maize (Zea mays L.): comparisons withdata from RFLPs and pedigree”, Theoretical and Applied Genetics (1997)vol. 95 at 163–173 and by Pejic et al., “Comparative analysis of geneticsimilarity among maize inbreds detected by RFLPs, RAPDs, SSRs, andAFLPs,” Theoretical and Applied Genetics (1998) at 1248–1255incorporated herein by reference. SSR technology is more efficient andpractical to use than RFLPs; more marker loci can be routinely used andmore alleles per marker locus can be found using SSRs in comparison toRFLPs. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms may also be used to identify theunique genetic composition of the invention and progeny lines retainingthat unique genetic composition. Various molecular marker techniques maybe used in combination to enhance overall resolution.

Maize DNA molecular marker linkage maps have been rapidly constructedand widely implemented in genetic studies. One such study is describedin Boppenmaier, et al., “Comparisons among strains of inbreds forRFLPs”, Maize Genetics Cooperative Newsletter, 65:1991, pg. 90, isincorporated herein by reference.

One use of molecular markers is Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping.QTL mapping is the use of markers, which are known to be closely linkedto alleles that have measurable effects on a quantitative trait.Selection in the breeding process is based upon the accumulation ofmarkers linked to the positive effecting alleles and/or the eliminationof the markers linked to the negative effecting alleles from the plant'sgenome.

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for theselection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked toalleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles ofinterest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles ofinterest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also beused to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against thegenome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amountof genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. Itcan also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrentparent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers inthe selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection.

Production of Double Haploids

The production of double haploids can also be used for the developmentof inbreds in the breeding program. For example, an F1 hybrid for whichPH7GD is a parent can be used to produce double haploid plants. Doublehaploids are produced by the doubling of a set of chromosomes (1N) froma heterozygous plant to produce a completely homozygous individual. Forexample, see Wan et al., “Efficient Production of Doubled Haploid PlantsThrough Colchicine Treatment of Anther-Derived Maize Callus”,Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 77:889–892, 1989 and US2003/0005479.This can be advantageous because the process omits the generations ofselfing needed to obtain a homozygous plant from a heterozygous source.

Thus, an embodiment of this invention is a process for making asubstantially homozygous PH7GD progeny plant by producing or obtaining aseed from the cross of PH7GD and another maize plant and applying doublehaploid methods to the F1 seed or F1 plant or to any successive filialgeneration. Such methods decrease the number of generations required toproduce an inbred with similar genetics or characteristics to PH7GD. SeeBernardo, R. and Kahler, A. L., Theor. Appl. Genet. 102:986–992, 2001.

In particular, a process of making seed retaining the molecular markerprofile of maize inbred line PH7GD is contemplated, such processcomprising obtaining or producing F1 hybrid seed for which maize inbredline PH7GD is a parent, inducing doubled haploids to create progenywithout the occurrence of meiotic segregation, obtaining the molecularmarker profile of maize inbred line PH7GD, and selecting progeny thatretain the molecular marker profile of PH7GD.

Use Of PH7GD in Tissue Culture

This invention is also directed to the use of PH7GD in tissue culture.As used herein, the term “tissue culture” includes plant protoplasts,plant cell tissue culture, cultured microspores, plant calli, plantclumps, and the like. As used herein, phrases such as “growing the seed”or “grown from the seed” include embryo rescue, isolation of cells fromseed for use in tissue culture, as well as traditional growing methods.

Duncan, Williams, Zehr, and Widholm, Planta (1985) 165:322–332 reflectsthat 97% of the plants cultured that produced callus were capable ofplant regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbreds and hybridsproduced 91% regenerable callus that produced plants. In a further studyin 1988, Songstad, Duncan & Widholm in Plant Cell Reports (1988),7:262–265 reports several media additions that enhance regenerability ofcallus of two inbred lines. Other published reports also indicated that“nontraditional” tissues are capable of producing somatic embryogenesisand plant regeneration. K. P. Rao, et al., Maize Genetics CooperationNewsletter, 60:64–65 (1986), refers to somatic embryogenesis from glumecallus cultures and B. V. Conger, et al., Plant Cell Reports, 6:345–347(1987) indicates somatic embryogenesis from the tissue cultures of maizeleaf segments. Thus, it is clear from the literature that the state ofthe art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are, and were,“conventional” in the sense that they are routinely used and have a veryhigh rate of success.

Tissue culture of maize, including tassel/anther culture, is describedin U.S. 2002/0062506A1 and European Patent Application, publication160,390, each of which are incorporated herein by reference for thispurpose. Maize tissue culture procedures are also described in Green andRhodes, “Plant Regeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize,” Maize forBiological Research (Plant Molecular Biology Association,Charlottesville, Virginia 1982, at 367–372) and in Duncan, et al., “TheProduction of Callus Capable of Plant Regeneration from Immature Embryosof Numerous Zea Mays Genotypes,” 165 Planta 322–332 (1985). Thus,another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growthand differentiation produce maize plants having the genotype and/orphysiological and morphological characteristics of inbred line PH7GD.

Progeny Plants

All plants produced by the use of the methods described herein and thatretain the unique genetic or trait combinations of PH7GD are within thescope of the invention. Progeny of the breeding methods described hereinmay be characterized in any number of ways, such as by traits retainedin the progeny, pedigree and/or molecular markers. Combinations of thesemethods of characterization may be used.

Breeder's of ordinary skill in the art have developed the concept of an“essentially derived variety”, which is defined in 7 U.S.C. § 2104(a)(3)of the Plant Variety Protection Act and is hereby incorporated byreference. Varieties and plants that are essentially derived from PH7GDare within the scope of the invention.

Pedigree is a method used by breeders of ordinary skill in the art todescribe the varieties. Varieties that are more closely related bypedigree are likely to share common genotypes and combinations ofphenotypic characteristics. All breeders of ordinary skill in the artmaintain pedigree records of their breeding programs. These pedigreerecords contain a detailed description of the breeding process,including a listing of all parental lines used in the breeding processand information on how such line was used. One embodiment of thisinvention is progeny plants and parts thereof with at least one ancestorthat is PH7GD, and more specifically, where the pedigree of the progenyincludes 1, 2, 3, 4, and/or 5 or less breeding crosses to a maize plantother than PH7GD or a plant that has PH7GD as a parent or otherprogenitor. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art would know if PH7GDwere used in the development of a progeny line, and would also know howmany crosses to a line other than PH7GD or line with PH7GD as a parentor other progenitor were made in the development of any progeny line.

Molecular markers also provide a means by which those of ordinary skillin the art characterize the similarity or differences of two lines.Using the breeding methods described herein, one can develop individualplants, plant cells, and populations of plants that retain at least 25%,30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%,68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%,82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% genetic contribution from inbred line PH7GD,as measured by either percent identity or percent similarity. Inpedigree analysis the percentage genetic contribution may not beactually known, but on average 50% of the starting germplasm would beexpected to be passed to the progeny line after one cross to anotherline, 25% after another cross to a different line, and so on. Withbackcrossing, the expected contribution of PH7GD after 2, 3, 4 and 5doses (or 1, 2, 3 and 4 backcrosses) would be 75%, 87.5%, 93.75% and96.875% respectively. Actual genetic contribution may be much higherthan the genetic contribution expected by pedigree, especially ifmolecular markers are used in selection. Molecular markers could also beused to confirm and/or determine the pedigree of the progeny line.

Traits are also used by those of ordinary skill in the art tocharacterize progeny. Traits are commonly evaluated at a significancelevel, such as a 1%, 5% or 10% significance level, when measured inplants grown in the same environmental conditions. For example, abackcross conversion of PH7GD may be characterized as having the samemorphological and physiological traits as PH7GD. The traits used forcomparison may be any or all of the traits shown in Table 1, Table 3,Table 4 or Table 5.

A breeder will commonly work to combine a specific trait of anundeveloped variety of the species, such as a high level of resistanceto a particular disease, with one or more of the elite agronomiccharacteristics (yield, maturity, plant size, lodging resistance, etc.)needed for use as a commercial variety. This combination, oncedeveloped, provides a valuable source of new germplasm for furtherbreeding. For example, it may take 10–15 years and significant effort toproduce such a combination, yet progeny may be developed that retainthis combination in as little as 2–5 years and with much less effort.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Specific methods and products produced using inbred line PH7GD in plantbreeding are discussed in the following sections. The methods outlinedare described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposesof clarity and understanding. However, it will be obvious that certainchanges and modifications may be practiced within the scope of theinvention.

One method for producing a line derived from inbred line PH7GD is asfollows. One of ordinary skill in the art would produce or obtain a seedfrom the cross between inbred line PH7GD and another variety of maize,such as an elite inbred variety. The F1 seed derived from this crosswould be grown to form a homogeneous population. The F1 seed wouldcontain essentially all of the alleles from variety PH7GD andessentially all of the alleles from the other maize variety. The F1nuclear genome would be made-up of 50% variety PH7GD and 50% of theother elite variety. The F1 seed would be grown and allowed to self,thereby forming F2 seed. On average the F2 seed would have derived 50%of its alleles from variety PH7GD and 50% from the other maize variety,but many individual plants from the population would have a greaterpercentage of their alleles derived from PH7GD (Wang J. and R. Bernardo,2000, Crop Sci. 40:659–665 and Bernardo, R. and A. L. Kahler, 2001,Theor. Appl. Genet 102:986–992). The molecular markers of PH7GD could beused to select and retain those lines with high similarity to PH7GD. TheF2 seed would be grown and selection of plants would be made based onvisual observation, markers and/or measurement of traits. The traitsused for selection may be any PH7GD trait described in thisspecification, including the inbred per se maize PH7GD traits describedherein under the detailed description of inbred PH7GD. Such traits mayalso be the good general or specific combining ability of PH7GD,including its ability to produce hybrids with the approximate maturityand/or hybrid combination traits described herein under the detaileddescription of inbred PH7GD. The PH7GD progeny plants that exhibit oneor more of the desired PH7GD traits, such as those listed herein, wouldbe selected and each plant would be harvested separately. This F3 seedfrom each plant would be grown in individual rows and allowed to self.Then selected rows or plants from the rows would be harvestedindividually. The selections would again be based on visual observation,markers and/or measurements for desirable traits of the plants, such asone or more of the desirable PH7GD traits listed herein. The process ofgrowing and selection would be repeated any number of times until aPH7GD progeny inbred plant is obtained. The PH7GD progeny inbred plantwould contain desirable traits derived from inbred plant PH7GD, some ofwhich may not have been expressed by the other maize variety to whichinbred line PH7GD was crossed and some of which may have been expressedby both maize varieties but now would be at a level equal to or greaterthan the level expressed in inbred variety PH7GD. However, in each casethe resulting progeny line would benefit from the efforts of theinventor(s), and would not have existed but for the inventor(s) work increating PH7GD. The PH7GD progeny inbred plants would have, on average,50% of their nuclear genes derived from inbred line PH7GD, but manyindividual plants from the population would have a greater percentage oftheir alleles derived from PH7GD. This breeding cycle, of crossing andselfing, and optional selection, may be repeated to produce anotherpopulation of PH7GD progeny maize plants with, on average, 25% of theirnuclear genes derived from inbred line PH7GD, but, again, manyindividual plants from the population would have a greater percentage oftheir alleles derived from PH7GD. This process can be repeated for athird, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or more breeding cycles. Anotherembodiment of the invention is a PH7GD progeny plant that has receivedthe desirable PH7GD traits listed herein through the use of PH7GD, whichtraits were not exhibited by other plants used in the breeding process.

Therefore, an embodiment of this invention is a PH7GD progeny maizeplant, wherein at least one ancestor of said PH7GD progeny maize plantis the maize plant or plant part of PH7GD, and wherein the pedigree ofsaid PH7GD progeny maize plant is within two breeding crosses of PH7GDor a plant that has PH7GD as a parent. The progeny plants, parts andplant cells produced from PH7GD may be further characterized as having apercent marker similarity or identity with PH7GD as described herein.

The previous example can be modified in numerous ways, for instanceselection may or may not occur at every selfing generation, selectionmay occur before or after the actual self-pollination process occurs, orindividual selections may be made by harvesting individual ears, plants,rows or plots at any point during the breeding process described. Doublehaploid breeding methods may be used at any step in the process. Insteadof selfing out of the hybrid produced from the inbred, one could firstcross the hybrid to either a parent line or a different inbred, and thenself out of that cross.

The population of plants produced at each and any cycle of breeding isalso an embodiment of the invention, and on average each such populationwould predictably consist of plants containing approximately 50% of itsgenes from inbred line PH7GD in the first breeding cycle, 25% of itsgenes from inbred line PH7GD in the second breeding cycle, 12.5% of itsgenes from inbred line PH7GD in the third breeding cycle, 6.25% in thefourth breeding cycle, 3.125% in the fifth breeding cycle, and so on.However, in each case the use of PH7GD provides a substantial benefit.The linkage groups of PH7GD would be retained in the progeny lines, andsince current estimates of the maize genome size is about 50,000–80,000genes (Xiaowu, Gai et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2000, Vol. 28, No. 1,94–96), in addition to non-coding DNA that impacts gene expression, itprovides a significant advantage to use PH7GD as starting material toproduce a line that retains desired genetics or traits of PH7GD.

Therefore, an embodiment of the invention is a process for making apopulation of PH7GD progeny inbred maize plants comprising obtaining orproducing a first generation progeny maize seed comprising the plant ofPH7GD as a parent, growing said first generation progeny maize seed toproduce first generation maize plants and obtaining self or sibpollinated seed from said first generation maize plants, and growing theself or sib pollinated seed to obtain a population of PH7GD progenyinbred maize plants.

The population of PH7GD progeny inbred maize plants produced by thismethod are also embodiments of the invention, and such population as awhole will retain the expected genetic contribution of PH7GD. An inbredline selected from the population of PH7GD progeny inbred maize plantsproduced by this method is an embodiment, and such line may be furthercharacterized by its molecular marker identity or similarity to PH7GD.

In this manner, the invention also encompasses a process for making aPH7GD inbred progeny maize plant comprising the steps of obtaining orproducing a first generation progeny maize seed wherein a parent of saidfirst generation progeny maize seed is a PH7GD plant, growing said firstgeneration progeny maize seed to produce a first generation maize plantand obtaining self or sib pollinated seed from said first generationmaize plant, and producing successive filial generations to obtain aPH7GD inbred progeny maize plant. Also an embodiment of this inventionis the first breeding cycle inbred PH7GD maize plant produced by thismethod.

Crosses to Other Species

The utility of inbred maize line PH7GD also extends to crosses withother species. Commonly, suitable species will be of the familyGraminaceae, and especially of the genera Zea, Tripsacum, Coix,Schlerachne, Polytoca, Chionachne, and Trilobachne, of the tribeMaydeae. Potentially suitable for crosses with PH7GD may be the variousvarieties of grain sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Maize is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material inindustry. The food uses of maize, in addition to human consumption ofmaize kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries.The principal products of maize dry milling are grits, meal and flour.The maize wet-milling industry can provide maize starch, maize syrups,and dextrose for food use. Maize oil is recovered from maize germ, whichis a by-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Maize, including both grain and non-grain portions of the plant, is alsoused extensively as livestock feed, primarily for beef cattle, dairycattle, hogs, and poultry.

Industrial uses of maize include production of ethanol, maize starch inthe wet-milling industry and maize flour in the dry-milling industry.The industrial applications of maize starch and flour are based onfunctional properties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesiveproperties, and ability to suspend particles. The maize starch and flourhave application in the paper and textile industries. Other industrialuses include applications in adhesives, building materials, foundrybinders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds, and other miningapplications.

Plant parts other than the grain of maize are also used in industry: forexample, stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs areused for fuel and to make charcoal.

The seed of inbred maize line PH7GD, the plant produced from the inbredseed, the hybrid maize plant produced from the crossing of the inbred,hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid maize plant and transgenicversions of the foregoing, can be utilized for human food, livestockfeed, and as a raw material in industry.

DEPOSITS

Applicant has made a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of Inbred Maize LinePH7GD with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va.20110 USA, ATCC Deposit No. PTA-6356. The seeds deposited with the ATCCon Nov. 30, 2004 were taken from the deposit maintained by PioneerHi-Bred International, Inc., 7250 NW 62^(nd) Avenue, Johnston, Iowa50131 since prior to the filing date of this application. Access to thisdeposit will be available during the pendency of the application to theCommissioner of Patents and Trademarks and persons determined by theCommissioner to be entitled thereto upon request. Upon allowance of anyclaims in the application, the Applicant will make the deposit availableto the public pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.808. This deposit of the InbredMaize Line PH7GD will be maintained in the ATCC depository, which is apublic depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the mostrecent request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period.Additionally, Applicant has or will satisfy all of the requirements of37 C.F.R. §§1.801–1.809, including providing an indication of theviability of the sample upon deposit. Applicant has no authority towaive any restrictions imposed by law on the transfer of biologicalmaterial or its transportation in commerce. Applicant does not waive anyinfringement of rights granted under this patent or under the PlantVariety Protection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.). U.S. Plant VarietyProtection of Inbred Maize Line PH7GD has been applied for.

TABLES

TABLE 1 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION VARIETY = PH7GD 1. TYPE:(Describe intermediate types in comments AVG STDEV N  section) 1 =Sweet, 2 = Dent, 3 = Flint, 4 = Flour, 5 = Pop and 2 6 = Ornamental.Comments: Dent-Flint 2. MATURITY: DAYS HEAT UNITS Days H.Units Emergenceto 50% of plants in silk 50 1,131 Emergence to 50% of plants in pollenshed 50 1,124 10% to 90% pollen shed 3 85 50% Silk to harvest at 25%moisture 3. PLANT: Plant Height (to tassel tip) (cm) 182.9 22.91 30 EarHeight (to base of top ear node) (cm) 80.5 15.27 30 Length of Top EarInternode (cm) 15.6 1.36 30 Average Number of Tillers per Plant 0.1 0.036 Average Number of Ears per Stalk 1.1 0.12 6 Anthocyanin of BraceRoots: 1 = Absent, 2 = Faint, 2 3 = Moderate, 4 = Dark 4. LEAF: Width ofEar Node Leaf (cm) 9.2 0.95 30 Length of Ear Node Leaf (cm) 68.4 5.63 30Number of Leaves above Top Ear 4.8 0.70 30 Leaf Angle: (at anthesis, 2ndleaf above ear to 29.8 5.98 30 stalk above leaf) (Degrees) * Leaf Color:V. Dark Green Munsell: 7.5GY34 Leaf Sheath Pubescence: 1 = none to 9 =like peach fuzz 2 5. TASSEL: Number of Primary Lateral Branches 7.3 1.8030 Branch Angle from Central Spike 27.2 7.50 30 Tassel Length: (frompeduncle node to tassel tip), (cm). 45.7 7.06 30 Pollen Shed: 0 = malesterile, 9 = heavy shed 4 * Anther Color: Light Red Munsell: 2.5R48 *Glume Color: Red Munsell: 7.5RP38 * Bar Glumes (glume bands): 1 =absent, 2 = present 1 Peduncle Length: (from top leaf node to lowerflorets or 21.0 4.27 30 branches), (cm). 6a. EAR (Unhusked ear) AVGSTDEV N * Silk color: Green Yellow Munsell: 10Y8.58 (3 days after silkemergence) * Fresh husk color: Med. Green Munsell: 5GY66 * Dry huskcolor: White Munsell: 10YR92 (65 days after 50% silking) Ear position atdry husk stage: 1 = upright, 2 = horizontal, 3 3 = pendant HuskTightness: (1 = very loose, 9 = very tight) 4 Husk Extension (atharvest): 1 = short (ears exposed), 2 2 = medium (<8 cm), 3 = long (8–10cm), 4 = v. long (>10 cm) 6b. EAR (Husked ear data) Ear Length (cm):13.3 0.99 30 Ear Diameter at mid-point (mm) 40.5 2.05 30 Ear Weight(gm): 85.7 15.33 30 Number of Kernel Rows: 13.8 1.52 30 Kernel Rows: 1 =indistinct, 2 = distinct 2 Row Alignment: 1 = straight, 2 = slightlycurved, 3 = spiral 2 Shank Length (cm): 9.2 3.18 30 Ear Taper: 1 =slight cylind., 2 = average, 3 = extreme 2 7. KERNEL (Dried): KernelLength (mm): 10.2 0.92 30 Kernel Width (mm): 8.3 0.76 30 KernelThickness (mm): 5.0 0.76 30 Round Kernels (shape grade) (%) 52.8 6.68 6Aleurone Color Pattern: 1 = homozygous, 2 = segregating 1 * AleuroneColor: Yellow Munsell: 10YR714 * Hard Endo. Color: Yellow Munsell:10YR712 Endosperm Type: 3 1 = sweet (su1), 2 = extra sweet (sh2), 3 =normal starch, 4 = high amylose starch, 5 = waxy starch, 6 = highprotein, 7 = high lysine, 8 = super sweet (se), 9 = high oil, 10 = otherWeight per 100 Kernels (unsized sample) (gm): 25.3 2.07 6 8. COB: * CobDiameter at mid-point (mm): 23.9 1.51 30 * Cob Color: Pink OrangeMunsell: 2.5YR48 10. DISEASE RESISTANCE: (Rate from 1 = most-susceptableto 9 = most-resistant. Leave blank if not tested, leave race or strainoptions blank if polygenic.) A. LEAF BLIGHTS, WILTS, AND LOCAL INFECTIONDISEASES Anthracnose Leaf Blight (Colletotrichum graminicola) 6 CommonRust (Puccinia sorghi) Common Smut (Ustilago maydis) 5 Eyespot(Kabatiella zeae) 5 Gross's Wilt (Clavibacter michiganense spp.nebraskense) 3 Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis) HelminthosporiumLeaf Spot (Bipolaris zeicola) Race: 3 Northern Leaf Blight (Exserohilumturcicum) Race: Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis) Race: SouthernRust (Puccinia polysora) 7 Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii) Other(Specify):     B. SYSTEMIC DISEASES Corn Lethal Necrosis (MCMV and MDMV)9 Head Smut (Sphacelotheca reiliana) Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus (MDV)Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV) 7 Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV)Sorghum Downy Mildew of Corn (Peronosclerospora sorghi) Other (Specify):    C. STALK ROTS 8 Anthracnose Stalk Rot (Colletotrichum graminicola)Diplodia Stalk Rot (Stenocarpella maydis) Fusarium Stalk Rot (Fusariummoniliforme) Gibberella Stalk Rot (Gibberella zeae) Other (Specify):    D. EAR AND KERNEL ROTS Aspergillus Ear and Kernel Rot (Aspergillusflavus) 5 Diplodia Ear Rot (Stenocarpella maydis) 7 Fusarium Ear andKernel Rot (Fusarium moniliforme) 5 Gibberella Ear Rot (Gibberella zeae)Other (Specify):     11. INSECT RESISTANCE: (Rate from 1 = most-suscept.to 9 most-resist., leave blank if not tested.) Corn Worm (Helicoverpazea)   Leaf Feeding   Silk Feeding   Ear Damage Corn Leaf Aphid(Rophalosiphum maydis) Corn Sap Beetle (Capophilus dimidiatus) EuropeanCorn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) 1st. Generation (Typically whorl leaffeeding) 2nd. Generation (Typically leaf sheath-collar feeding)   StalkTunneling   cm tunneled/plant Fall armyworm (Spodoptera fruqiperda)  Leaf Feeding   Silk Feeding   mg larval wt. Maize Weevil (Sitophiluszeamaize) Northern Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi) Southern Rootworm(Diabrotica undecimpunctata) Southwestern Corn Borer (Diatreaeagrandiosella)   Leaf Feeding   Stalk Tunneling   cm tunneled/plantTwo-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus utricae) Western Rootworm(Diabrotica virgifrea virgifrea) Other (Specify):     12. AGRONOMICTRAITS: Staygreen (at 65 days after anthesis; rate from 1-worst to9-excellent) % Dropped Ears (at 65 days after anthesis) % Pre-anthesisBrittle Snapping % Pre-anthesis Root Lodging % Post-anthesis RootLodging (at 65 days after anthesis) % Post-anthesis Stalk Lodging4,463.0 Kg/ha (Yield at 12–13% grain moisture) * Munsell Glossy Book ofcolor, (A standard color reference). Kollmorgen Inst. Corp. New Windsor,NY.

TABLE 2 SSR PROFILE OF PH7GD Bin # Marker Name Base Pairs 1.01 BNLG1014126.25 1.01 UMC2225 146.07 1.01 UMC2225 301.62 1.02 BNLG1007 135.34 1.02BNLG1083 224.63 1.02 BNLG1127 99.72 1.02 BNLG1953 209 1.03 BNGL439247.64 1.03 BNLG1203 318.49 1.03 PHI109275 136.31 1.04 BNLG2086 227.811.05 BNLG1832 220.33 1.05 BNLG1886 132.72 1.05 BNLG1886 126.87 1.06BNLG1057 273.69 1.06 BNLG1615 224.62 1.06 UMC1035 236.02 1.07 BNLG1556203.68 1.09 BNLG1331 123.51 1.09 BNLG1720 245.59 1.09 PHI011 221.69 1.1PHI308707 133.77 1.11 PHI064 104.48 1.11 PHI227562 322.12 1.11 PHI265454220.63 2.01 PHI96100 283.31 2.01 UMC1227 142.79 2.02 BNLG1017 197.192.02 UMC1265 296.65 2.03 BNLG1064 203.85 2.03 PHI109642 141.92 2.04PHI083 127.76 2.04 UMC1326 142.11 2.05 BNLG1909 299.33 2.06 BNLG1036197.21 2.06 BNLG1138 227.3 2.06 BNLG1396 136.36 2.06 BNLG1831 188.712.07 PHI251315 126.5 2.07 UMC1560 140.51 2.08 BNLG1258 220.59 2.08BNLG1940 250.6 2.08 PHI435417 215.95 2.08 UMC1049 131.08 2.09 BNLG1520288.55 2.09 UMC1736 284.29 2.1 PHI101049 229.86 3 PHI453121 220.04 3.01PHI404206 301.77 3.02 BNLG1647 154.28 3.02 PHI243966 214.68 3.03BNLG1523 268.37 3.04 BNLG1113 98.3 3.04 BNLG1452 87.35 3.04 BNLG1638145.04 3.04 BNLG1816 284.1 3.04 BNLG2241 144.95 3.04 PHI029 150 3.05BNLG1035 117.24 3.05 PHI073 185.29 3.06 BNLG1160 223.05 3.06 BNLG1951129.78 3.06 PHI070 70.14 3.06 PHI102228 138.86 3.09 BNLG1496 220.1 3.1UMC1136 149.72 4 PHI072 142.65 4.01 PHI295450 189.12 4.03 ADH2 86.894.04 PHI096 237.99 4.05 BNLG1265 200.13 4.05 BNLG1755 219.52 4.05UMC1175 283.64 4.07 BNLG1784 234.91 4.07 UMC2038 124.86 4.08 PHI093284.56 4.09 BNLG1565 206.95 4.11 BNLG1890 203.6 4.11 PHI076 172.72 5.03PHI109188 163.8 5.04 BNGL653 153.92 5.04 BNLG1208 120.91 5.04 BNLG2323198.11 5.04 BNLG653 155.3 5.05 PHI333597 212.83 5.05 UMC2386 123.14 5.06PHI085 237.84 5.07 BNLG1118 77.74 5.07 BNLG1346 191.47 5.07 BNLG1711180.68 6.01 BNLG1422 219.67 6.01 PHI159819 138.59 6.04 UMC2317 125.996.05 BNLG1174 221.98 6.05 UMC1413 300.45 6.06 UMC1463 309.7 6.07BNLG1740 233.71 6.07 PHI299852 119.65 7 BNLG2132 207.78 7.01 BNLG1292123.85 7.01 UMC1159 237.56 7.02 BNLG1094 147.42 7.02 PHI034 140.9 7.02UMC2327 137.41 7.03 BNLG1070 163.27 7.03 BNLG155 224.79 7.03 BNLG2271237.21 7.04 PHI328175 124.36 7.05 PHI069 203.5 7.06 PHI116 162 8.01UMC1075 230.18 8.03 BNLG1863 247.44 8.03 PHI100175 147.6 8.03 PHI115303.92 8.03 PHI121 100.54 8.04 BNLG2046 320.97 8.05 BNLG1176 220.8 8.06BNLG1031 292.84 8.06 UMC1149 229.69 8.07 BNLG1065 219.12 8.07 BNLG1828187.54 8.08 BNLG1056 112.77 8.08 PHI015 97.33 8.09 PHI233376 138.59 8.09UMC1663 207.37 9.01 BNLG1810 219.9 9.01 BNLG2122 219.94 9.01 PHI033252.09 9.03 PHI079 188.36 9.04 BNLG1012 159.39 9.06 PHI448880 184.3 9.07BNGL619 271.37 9.08 BNLG1129 302.49 10 PHI041 205.09 10.02 BNLG1429192.27 10.02 PHI059 156.32 10.02 UMC1337 312.94 10.03 BNLG1079 172.4610.03 UMC1037 247.96 10.04 PHI062 163.74 10.05 BNLG1074 164.6 10.07BNLG1185 313.35 10.07 BNLG1450 193.95 10.07 BNLG1839 207.81

TABLE 3A PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT Variety #1: PH7GD Variety #2:PH9AH YIELD YIELD MST TSTWT EGRWTH ESTCNT TILLER GDUSHD BU/A 56# BU/A56# PCT LB/BU SCORE COUNT PCT GDU Stat ABS % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABSMean1 75.9 96.8 15.7 56.1 5.9 20.2 4.3 115.6 Mean2 81.9 108.8 15.4 55.76.1 20.8 5.4 111.1 Locs 23 23 23 3 23 20 20 59 Reps 84 84 84 16 23 20 2059 Diff −6.0 −12.0 −0.3 0.4 −0.2 −0.7 1.0 4.5 Prob 0.105 0.027 0.4640.751 0.536 0.517 0.515 0.000 GDUSLK POLWT POLWT TASBLS TASSZ PLTHTEARHT STAGRN GDU VALUE VALUE SCORE SCORE CM CM SCORE Stat ABS ABS % MNABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 115.6 61.6 56.6 9.0 4.3 192.7 81.4 1.6 Mean2113.2 101.0 94.1 9.0 5.5 198.0 80.3 2.0 Locs 60 4 4 5 48 38 14 8 Reps 618 8 5 48 38 14 8 Diff 2.4 −39.4 −37.5 0.0 −1.2 −5.3 1.1 −0.4 Prob 0.0010.321 0.280 1.000 0.000 0.056 0.820 0.351 STKLDG BRTSTK SCTGRN EARSZTEXEAR EARMLD BARPLT GLFSPT % NOT % NOT SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE % NOTSCORE Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 84.8 99.9 6.4 4.0 5.56.1 98.5 3.0 Mean2 84.0 98.7 7.2 4.0 4.5 5.9 98.5 4.0 Locs 6 1 13 1 2 727 1 Reps 6 12 13 1 2 7 71 2 Diff 0.8 1.2 −0.8 0.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 −1.0 Prob0.363 . 0.027 . 0.500 0.689 0.898 . NLFBLT STWWLT ANTROT FUSERS GIBERSEYESPT COMRST CLDTST SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE PCT StatABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 4.0 7.0 7.8 7.2 6.0 5.0 5.5 84.6Mean2 4.3 7.0 4.8 6.6 7.9 5.0 6.8 88.4 Locs 3 1 2 5 4 1 4 8 Reps 4 1 4 55 2 4 8 Diff −0.3 0.0 3.0 0.6 −1.9 0.0 −1.3 −3.8 Prob 0.423 . 0.2050.208 0.108 . 0.080 0.359 HD CLDTST KSZDCD SMT ERTLDG LRTLDG ERTLPNLRTLPN STLLPN PCT PCT % NOT % NOT % NOT % NOT % NOT % NOT Stat % MN ABSABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 95.3 3.2 94.5 100.0 100.0 65.0 75.0 98.0Mean2 100.4 3.6 99.0 100.0 100.0 77.8 82.5 100.0 Locs 8 8 2 2 1 4 4 1Reps 8 8 4 2 1 4 4 2 Diff −5.0 −0.3 −4.4 0.0 0.0 −12.8 −7.5 −2.0 Prob0.347 0.513 0.085 1.000 . 0.481 0.789 .

TABLE 3B PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT Variety #1: PH7GD Variety #2:PHTW6 EGRWTH ESTCNT TILLER GDUSHD GDUSLK TASBLS TASSZ PLTHT SCORE COUNTPCT GDU GDU SCORE SCORE CM Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean16.1 18.0 0.7 109.0 106.9 9.0 5.3 213.7 Mean2 6.3 17.5 1.3 112.3 112.39.0 5.5 215.9 Locs 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Reps 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Diff −0.1 0.50.6 −3.3 −5.4 0.0 −0.3 −2.2 Prob 0.854 0.757 0.391 0.374 0.109 1.0000.495 0.734 STKLDG SCTGRN EARMLD BARPLT FUSERS COMRST % NOT SCORE SCORE% NOT SCORE SCORE Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 100.0 7.0 6.5 100.07.5 5.5 Mean2 100.0 8.0 6.5 100.0 6.5 6.0 Locs 4 2 2 4 2 2 Reps 4 2 2 42 2 Diff 0.0 −1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 −0.5 Prob 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 0.5000.500

TABLE 3C PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT Variety #1: PH7GD Variety #2:PHDN7 YIELD YIELD MST TSTWT EGRWTH ESTCNT TILLER GDUSHD GDUSLK TASSZPLTHT EARHT BU/A 56# BU/A 56# PCT LB/BU SCORE COUNT PCT GDU GDU SCORE CMCM Stat ABS % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 60.8 97.215.6 57.0 6.3 22.8 8.2 116.0 117.0 3.7 183.1 80.5 Mean2 73.1 117.1 18.262.6 5.3 23.8 1.1 124.5 126.9 5.6 204.9 98.1 Locs 11 11 11 1 7 4 5 22 2218 11 6 Reps 11 11 11 1 7 4 5 22 22 18 11 6 Diff −12.3 −19.9 2.6 −5.61.0 −1.0 −7.1 −8.5 −10.0 −1.9 −21.9 −17.6 Prob 0.112 0.115 0.000 . 0.1560.658 0.075 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.041 0.088 STAGRN STKLDG SCTGRN EARSZTEXEAR EARMLD BARPLT NLFBLT STWWLT ANTROT FUSERS GIBERS SCORE % NOTSCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE % NOT SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE Stat ABS ABSABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 1.0 54.3 6.0 4.0 5.5 4.096.9 3.0 7.0 8.0 8.0 6.5 Mean2 3.0 92.9 7.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 95.3 6.0 5.0 9.07.0 6.8 Locs 3 2 7 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 2 Reps 3 2 7 1 2 1 6 1 1 2 1 3 Diff−2.0 −38.5 −1.0 0.0 0.5 −2.0 1.5 −3.0 2.0 −1.0 1.0 −0.3 Prob 0.074 0.5290.322 . 0.500 . 0.547 . . . . 0.500 HD COMRST CLDTST CLDTST KSZDCD SMTERTLPN LRTLPN SCORE PCT PCT PCT % NOT % NOT % NOT Stat ABS ABS % MN ABSABS ABS ABS Mean1 5.5 74.8 87.8 3.7 96.2 30.0 66.7 Mean2 6.5 92.3 109.92.4 96.0 40.0 50.0 Locs 2 4 4 4 1 2 3 Reps 2 4 4 4 2 2 3 Diff −1.0 −17.5−22.1 1.3 0.2 −10.0 16.7 Prob 1.000 0.125 0.149 0.391 . 0.795 0.300

TABLE 3D PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT Variety #1: PH7GD Variety #2:PH76T YIELD YIELD MST TSTWT EGRWTH ESTCNT TILLER GDUSHD BU/A 56# BU/A56# PCT LB/BU SCORE COUNT PCT GDU Stat ABS % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABSMean1 67.6 96.4 15.8 56.1 5.9 21.0 4.3 116.3 Mean2 65.0 92.8 15.5 53.26.0 21.9 1.1 115.5 Locs 19 19 19 3 29 24 20 62 Reps 84 84 84 25 29 24 2062 Diff 2.6 3.5 −0.3 2.9 −0.1 −0.9 −3.2 0.8 Prob 0.456 0.508 0.431 0.1320.625 0.314 0.010 0.285 GDUSLK TASBLS TASSZ PLTHT EARHT STAGRN STKLDGBRTSTK GDU SCORE SCORE CM CM SCORE % NOT % NOT Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABSABS ABS ABS Mean1 116.0 9.0 4.3 192.6 81.4 1.6 81.7 99.9 Mean2 118.1 9.03.3 184.8 68.0 2.8 87.1 99.2 Locs 64 4 49 37 14 8 5 1 Reps 65 4 49 37 148 5 12 Diff −2.1 0.0 0.9 7.8 13.4 −1.1 −5.3 0.6 Prob 0.007 1.000 0.0000.062 0.001 0.208 0.374 . SCTGRN EARSZ TEXEAR EARMLD BARPLT GLFSPTNLFBLT STWWLT SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE % NOT SCORE SCORE SCORE Stat ABSABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 6.6 4.0 5.5 6.1 98.5 3.0 4.0 7.0 Mean27.6 4.0 4.0 5.4 95.6 3.5 3.5 7.0 Locs 14 1 2 7 27 1 3 1 Reps 14 1 2 7 792 4 1 Diff −0.9 0.0 1.5 0.7 2.9 −0.5 0.5 0.0 Prob 0.017 . 0.500 0.3100.016 . 0.580 . ANTROT FUSERS GIBERS EYESPT COMRST CLDTST CLDTST KSZDCDSCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE PCT PCT PCT Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS %MN ABS Mean1 7.8 7.3 6.0 5.0 6.0 74.8 87.8 3.7 Mean2 8.3 6.1 6.6 5.0 6.584.5 100.7 6.6 Locs 2 7 4 1 4 4 4 4 Reps 4 7 6 2 4 4 4 4 Diff −0.5 1.1−0.6 0.0 −0.5 −9.8 −12.9 −2.9 Prob 1.000 0.139 0.612 . 0.495 0.378 0.3700.137 HD SMT ERTLDG LRTLDG ERTLPN LRTLPN STLLPN % NOT % NOT % NOT % NOT% NOT % NOT Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 94.5 100.0 100.0 65.075.0 98.0 Mean2 96.1 100.0 100.0 92.3 77.5 91.5 Locs 2 2 1 4 4 1 Reps 42 1 4 4 2 Diff −1.6 0.0 0.0 −27.3 −2.5 6.5 Prob 0.227 1.000 . 0.3090.718 .

TABLE 4 GENERAL COMBINING ABILITY REPORT PH7GD PRM Day ABS Mean 77 PRMDay ABS Reps 1308 PRMSHD Day ABS Mean 81 PRMSHD Day ABS Reps 894 YIELDbu/a 56# ABS Mean 136.8 YIELD bu/a 56# ABS Reps 591 YIELD bu/a 56# ABSYears 3 YIELD bu/a 56# % MN Mean 101.4 YIELD bu/a 56# % MN Reps 591 MSTpct ABS Mean 25.2 MST pct ABS Reps 592 MST pct % MN Mean 98.9 MST pct %MN Reps 592 STLPCN % NOT % MN Mean 96 STLPCN % NOT % MN Reps 324 STLLPN% NOT % MN Mean 103 STLLPN % NOT % MN Reps 87 ERTLPN % NOT % MN Mean 103ERTLPN % NOT % MN Reps 58 LRTLPN % NOT % MN Mean 101 LRTLPN % NOT % MNReps 55 TSTWT lb/bu % MN Mean 99.7 TSTWT lb/bu % MN Reps 339 STKCNTcount % MN Mean 99 STKCNT count % MN Reps 1194 PLTHT in % MN Mean 102PLTHT in % MN Reps 233 EARHT in % MN Mean 109 EARHT in % MN Reps 225BRTSTK % NOT % MN Mean 103 BRTSTK % NOT % MN Reps 27 GLFSPT score ABSMean GLFSPT score ABS Reps STAGRN score ABS Mean 5 STAGRN score ABS Reps196 HSKCVR score ABS Mean 4 HSKCVR score ABS Reps 119

TABLE 5A INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT Variety #1: HYBRIDCONTAINING PH7GD Variety #2: 39H84 YIELD YIELD MST EGRWTH ESTCNT GDUSHDGDUSLK STKCNT PLTHT EARHT BU/A 56# BU/A 56# PCT SCORE COUNT GDU GDUCOUNT CM CM Stat ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN Mean1141.4 108.4 102.1 109.1 104.2 100.7 98.0 99.7 103.1 113.2 Mean2 143.7110.3 105.9 91.6 96.2 101.4 99.5 99.4 102.4 103.9 Locs 31 31 31 18 8 2314 57 13 12 Reps 61 61 61 35 18 37 18 115 28 26 Diff −2.3 −1.9 3.8 17.58.0 −0.7 −1.5 0.4 0.6 9.3 Prob 0.237 0.216 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.196 0.0260.595 0.532 0.000 STAGRN TSTWT NLFBLT ECB1LF ECB2SC HSKCVR HD SMT ERTLPNLRTLPN SCORE LB/BU SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE % NOT % NOT % NOT Stat % MNABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 138.9 54.6 5.0 9.0 8.4 3.9 92.899.0 96.4 Mean2 99.6 52.8 5.0 4.1 3.9 6.1 92.6 97.5 83.0 Locs 12 25 1 55 11 1 1 2 Reps 26 50 2 10 10 22 2 2 4 Diff 39.3 1.7 0.0 4.9 4.5 −2.30.2 1.5 13.3 Prob 0.002 0.000 . 0.000 0.001 0.000 . . 0.156

TABLE 5B INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT Variety #1: HYBRIDCONTAINING PH7GD Variety #2: 39B01 YIELD YIELD MST EGRWTH ESTCNT GDUSHDGDUSLK STKCNT PLTHT EARHT STAGRN ABTSTK BU/A 56# BU/A 56# PCT SCORECOUNT GDU GDU COUNT CM CM SCORE % NOT Stat ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN% MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN Mean1 128.7 104.9 99.8 117.4 109.9 101.598.9 100.9 102.3 111.1 120.2 98.4 Mean2 123.4 100.5 97.1 105.1 105.3100.6 98.2 100.8 99.9 103.4 86.7 93.8 Locs 65 65 65 9 23 43 23 125 28 2825 4 Reps 141 141 141 18 65 77 32 287 66 66 59 21 Diff 5.4 4.3 −2.8 12.44.6 0.9 0.7 0.1 2.4 7.7 33.5 4.6 Prob 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.174 0.0470.019 0.194 0.844 0.003 0.000 0.000 0.581 HD TSTWT NLFBLT ANTROT GIBERSEYESPT ECB1LF ECB2SC HSKCVR SMT ERTLPN LRTLPN LB/BU SCORE SCORE SCORESCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE % NOT % NOT % NOT Stat ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABSABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 54.1 4.3 6.8 8.0 7.0 4.1 2.8 3.6 92.7 77.596.3 Mean2 53.4 4.5 5.7 7.5 6.0 2.9 3.5 4.1 92.1 82.5 99.7 Locs 58 3 3 11 5 6 16 8 1 7 Reps 126 6 6 2 2 12 15 32 12 6 13 Diff 0.7 −0.2 1.2 0.51.0 1.2 −0.7 −0.5 0.6 −5.0 −3.4 Prob 0.000 0.423 0.250 . . 0.024 0.1770.012 0.696 . 0.124

TABLE 5C INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT Variety #1: HYBRIDCONTAINING PH7GD Variety #2: 39H84 YIELD YIELD MST EGRWTH ESTCNT GDUSHDGDUSLK STKCNT PLTHT BU/A 56# BU/A 56# PCT SCORE COUNT GDU GDU COUNT CMStat ABS % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN Mean1 136.1 103.4 98.2123.5 108.9 101.1 98.8 101.4 101.5 Mean2 142.3 108.1 104.5 87.8 99.7101.5 100.4 100.1 103.0 Locs 74 74 74 26 18 51 31 131 30 Reps 146 146146 51 39 83 41 261 62 Diff −6.2 −4.8 6.3 35.7 9.2 −0.4 −1.6 1.4 −1.5Prob 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.140 0.000 0.008 0.012 EARHT STAGRNSTKLDG ABTSTK TSTWT NLFBLT ANTROT GIBERS EYESPT CM SCORE % NOT % NOTLB/BU SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE Stat % MN % MN % MN % MN ABS ABS ABS ABSABS Mean1 110.0 112.2 96.9 104.4 53.9 4.6 5.8 6.4 7.0 Mean2 104.5 101.7103.0 81.4 52.8 4.5 5.8 6.5 5.5 Locs 29 27 1 2 65 4 3 4 1 Reps 60 56 2 9130 8 6 7 2 Diff 5.5 10.5 −6.1 23.0 1.1 0.1 0.0 −0.1 1.5 Prob 0.0010.034 . 0.498 0.000 0.638 1.000 0.718 . ECB1LF ECB2SC HSKCVR BRTSTK HDSMT ERTLPN LRTLPN SCORE SCORE SCORE % NOT % NOT % NOT % NOT Stat ABS ABSABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 4.5 3.8 3.8 90.3 90.5 100.0 97.4 Mean2 3.9 3.96.4 89.4 92.5 97.5 77.6 Locs 6 9 23 2 8 1 8 Reps 13 21 45 4 10 2 14 Diff0.6 −0.1 −2.6 0.9 −2.1 2.5 19.8 Prob 0.058 0.877 0.000 0.695 0.395 .0.057

TABLE 5D INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT Variety #1: HYBRIDCONTAINING PH7GD Variety #2: 39B01 YIELD YIELD MST ESTCNT GDUSHD GDUSLKSTKCNT PLTHT BU/A 56# BU/A 56# PCT COUNT GDU GDU COUNT CM Stat ABS % MN% MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN Mean1 139.2 109.8 105.4 103.9 99.8 95.1100.3 104.8 Mean2 129.5 102.9 98.7 103.3 98.3 94.0 99.8 99.3 Locs 16 1616 6 14 7 32 8 Reps 32 32 32 14 23 8 65 18 Diff 9.6 7.0 −6.7 0.6 1.5 1.10.4 5.5 Prob 0.010 0.026 0.000 0.900 0.010 0.250 0.652 0.001 HD EARHTSTAGRN TSTWT ECB1LF ECB2SC HSKCVR SMT LRTLPN CM SCORE LB/BU SCORE SCORESCORE % NOT % NOT Stat % MN % MN ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS Mean1 113.4148.7 55.4 9.0 8.3 3.4 92.8 97.7 Mean2 100.9 91.4 54.0 3.3 3.3 3.8 94.399.2 Locs 8 7 16 3 2 6 1 1 Reps 18 16 32 6 4 12 2 2 Diff 12.4 57.3 1.45.7 5.0 −0.3 −1.5 −1.5 Prob 0.000 0.007 0.000 0.001 0.064 0.363 . .

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thespecification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the art towhich this invention pertains. All such publications, patents and patentapplications are incorporated by reference herein for the purpose citedto the same extent as if each was specifically and individuallyindicated to be incorporated by reference herein.

The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding. Asis readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the foregoing are onlysome of the methods and compositions that illustrate the embodiments ofthe foregoing invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art that variations, changes, modifications and alterations maybe applied to the compositions and/or methods described herein withoutdeparting from the true spirit, concept and scope of the invention.

1. Seed of maize inbred line designated PH7GD, representative seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-6356.
 2. Amaize plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim 1.3. The maize plant of claim 2 wherein said plant has been detasseled. 4.A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the plant of claim2.
 5. Protoplasts produced from the tissue culture of claim
 4. 6. Thetissue culture of claim 4, wherein cells of the tissue culture are froma tissue selected from the group consisting of leaf, pollen, embryo,root, root tip, anther, silk, flower, kernel, ear, cob, husk and stalk.7. A maize plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 6, saidplant having all the morphological and physiological characteristics ofinbred line PH7GD, representative seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-6356.
 8. A method for producingan F1 hybrid maize seed, comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with adifferent maize plant and harvesting the resultant F1 hybrid maize seed.9. A method of producing a male sterile maize plant comprisingtransforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a nucleic acid moleculethat confers male sterility.
 10. A male sterile maize plant produced bythe method of claim
 9. 11. A method of producing an herbicide resistantmaize plant comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with atransgene that confers herbicide resistance.
 12. An herbicide resistantmaize plant produced by the method of claim
 11. 13. The maize plant ofclaim 12, wherein the transgene confers resistance to an herbicideselected from the group consisting of: imidazolinone, sulfonylurea,glyphosate, glufosinate, L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.14. A method of producing an insect resistant maize plant comprisingtransforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confersinsect resistance.
 15. An insect resistant maize plant produced by themethod of claim
 14. 16. The maize plant of claim 15, wherein thetransgene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 17. A method ofproducing a disease resistant maize plant comprising transforming themaize plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers disease resistance.18. A disease resistant maize plant produced by the method of claim 17.19. A method of producing a maize plant with decreased phytate contentcomprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgeneencoding phytase.
 20. A maize plant with decreased phytate contentproduced by the method of claim
 19. 21. A method of producing a maizeplant with modified fatty acid metabolism or modified carbohydratemetabolism comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with atransgene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting ofstearyl-ACP desaturase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase,alpha-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme.
 22. A maize plantproduced by the method of claim
 21. 23. The maize plant of claim 22,wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consistingof waxy starch and increased amylose starch.
 24. A method of introducinga desired trait into maize inbred line PH7GD comprising: (a) crossingPH7GD plants grown from PH7GD seed, representative seed of which hasbeen deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-6356, with plants of anothermaize line that comprise a desired trait to produce F1 progeny plants,wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistanceand waxy starch; (b) selecting F1 progeny plants that have the desiredtrait to produce selected F1 progeny plants; (c) crossing the selectedprogeny plants with the PH7GD plants to produce backcross progenyplants; (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desiredtrait and physiological and morphological characteristics of maizeinbred line PH7GD listed in Table 1 to produce selected backcrossprogeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more timesin succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progenyplants that comprise the desired trait and all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of maize inbred line PH7GD listed in Table1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.
 25. A plant produced by the method of claim24, wherein the plant has the desired trait and all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of maize inbred line PH7GD listed inTable 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in thesame environmental conditions.
 26. The plant of claim 25, wherein thedesired trait is herbicide resistance and the resistance is conferred toan herbicide selected from the group consisting of: imidazolinone,sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, L-phosphinothricin, triazine andbenzonitrile.
 27. The plant of claim 25, wherein the desired trait isinsect resistance and the insect resistance is conferred by a transgeneencoding a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 28. The plant of claim 25,wherein the desired trait is male sterility and the trait is conferredby a cytoplasmic nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility. 29.A method of modifying fatty acid metabolism, phytic acid metabolism orcarbohydrate metabolism in maize inbred line PH7GD comprising: (a)crossing PH7GD plants grown from PH7GD seed, representative seed ofwhich has been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-6356, with plantsof another maize line that comprise a nucleic acid molecule encoding orinhibiting a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of phytase,stearyl-ACP desaturase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase,alpha-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme; (b) selecting F1progeny plants that have said nucleic acid molecule to produce selectedF1 progeny plants; (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with thePH7GD plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting forbackcross progeny plants that have said nucleic acid molecule andphysiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred linePH7GD listed in Table 1 to produce selected backcross progeny plants;and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times in succession toproduce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprisesaid nucleic acid molecule and have all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of maize inbred line PH7GD listed in Table1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.
 30. A plant produced by the method of claim29, wherein the plant comprises the nucleic acid molecule and has all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred linePH7GD listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level whengrown in the same environmental conditions.